Our Blog
4 Essentials of Using a Wood Stove
A wood stove brings a timeless charm and practical warmth to any home. These stoves are efficient heat sources and an eco-friendly alternative to fossil fuel-based heating systems. Whether using one to heat your entire home or a cozy corner, knowing how to use a wood...
Understanding the Dangers of Carbon Monoxide in the Home
Carbon monoxide (CO) is a silent killer, a colorless, odorless, and tasteless gas that can accumulate in your home without you ever realizing it. According to the CDC, more than 400 people die from unintentional CO poisoning in the U.S. every year, and thousands more...
How to Identify and Eliminate Unpleasant Odors in Your Home
Odors in the home can be unsettling and are often indicators of underlying issues. Whether it’s a musty smell in the basement or a foul odor in the kitchen, identifying the source of these smells is the first step toward resolving them. Let’s explore the common causes...
Understanding and Addressing Safety Hazards in the Home
Ensuring a safe home environment is crucial for the well-being of your family. Various hazards can pose significant risks, but many can be managed effectively with proactive measures. In this blog post, we'll explore common safety hazards in the home and provide...
Exploring Options for Patio Materials
One of the most important decisions when designing an outdoor space is selecting the right patio material. The material you choose influences the look and feel of your patio and impacts its durability, maintenance, and cost. Here's a guide to help you explore...
How to Sleep Well at Home: Optimizing Your Space for Restful Nights
Quality sleep is vital to overall health and well-being. Your home plays an integral part in promoting restful nights. With the right adjustments, you'll transform your bedroom into a relaxing retreat. In this blog post, we'll explore practical and effective...
Home Office Ideas: Tips for Remote Work Productivity
As remote work becomes increasingly prevalent, many homeowners find themselves in need of a dedicated space where they can be productive and focused. Crafting the ideal home office involves more than just setting up a desk and chair in a spare room. It requires...
The Most Critical Home Repairs Before Selling: How to Attract Buyers
Selling your home can be daunting, but ensuring it's in tip-top shape before listing can significantly enhance its marketability and potentially increase its sale price. Here’s a practical guide on the home repairs before selling to should consider to make your home...
8 Fundamentals to Help Prevent a House Fire
A house fire can be devastating, causing damage to property and posing a serious threat to lives. While it's impossible to completely eliminate the risk of a fire, there are numerous precautions you can take to significantly reduce the likelihood of one occurring. In...
Upgrade Your Deck for Spring: Ideas and Planning Tips
With spring on the way, many homeowners look forward to enjoying time outdoors. Now is the perfect time to plan deck upgrades to enhance your outdoor living space. From creative renovations to strategic planning, here are some ideas to upgrade your deck for spring....
Embracing the Green Revolution: A Guide to Home Composting
In a world where sustainability is becoming increasingly crucial, one simple and effective way to contribute is by composting at home. Composting turns kitchen and yard waste into nutrient-rich soil. In this guide, we'll explore the essentials of home composting, from...
5 New Year’s Resolutions for Homeowners
With the new year's arrival, many of us create resolutions to achieve our personal goals, from losing weight to saving money. As a homeowner, include property upkeep on your to-do list for the year. Your home reflects who you are, and maintenance and improvement will...
5 Tips to Improve Interior Lighting for Winter
As winter brings shorter days and longer nights, the importance of effective lighting in our homes is undeniable. Fewer hours of sunlight encourage us to embrace lighting as a necessity and a tool to create warmth and comfort during the colder months. Here are a few...
5 Ways to Update the Bathroom for Fall and Winter
Every homeowner can appreciate a comfortable and warm bathroom, especially during fall and winter when the air is crisp and the weather is chilly. Fortunately, there are ways to improve and update the bathroom to give it a cozy vibe. Here are five practical ways to...
Clean Your Home’s Gutters in 4 Easy Steps
Gutters protect your house from water damage by directing rainwater from the roof away from the foundation. Over time, the guttering channels collect leaves, sticks, and other debris, causing them to clog. Clogged gutters overflow, causing water to seep under the...
3 Tips for Growing a Fall Garden
Growing a fall garden can be one of the most rewarding parts of the season. All it takes is proper planning, good timing, and a little knowledge, and you can have an abundant harvest before winter. Use this as a guide to growing your own fall garden and enjoy the...
4 Tasks for Your Yearly Roof Maintenance Checklist
Yearly roof maintenance is essential to keeping your home in good condition. By inspecting the roof regularly and making necessary repairs, you can extend the life of your roof and prevent water damage, energy loss, and other risks. Here are a few tips for keeping...
5 Innovative Ideas to Update the Driveway
The driveway is a practical element of your home's exterior and an opportunity to make a statement while enhancing curb appeal. Whether you have a plain concrete driveway or an outdated asphalt surface, there are several ways to transform it into a visually appealing...
Create a Safe Deck for Children: 6 Tips for Homeowners
A backyard deck is a wonderful space for families to enjoy outdoor activities and create lasting memories. However, ensuring the safety of children on the deck is essential. You can transform your outdoor living space into a child-friendly and safe environment by...
5 Reasons to Hire a Plumber Instead of Making DIY Repairs
Plumbing issues can be frustrating for homeowners. Leaky faucets, clogged drains, and broken pipes are common problems that can disrupt daily life. When faced with these issues, some homeowners may want to try fixing them independently. However, plumbing repairs...
5 Tips for Fire Pit Safety
Fire pits are a great addition to any backyard, adding warmth and ambiance to your outdoor space. But when it comes to safety, there are some important things you should keep in mind. To keep everyone safe around the fire, understand the risks and take the necessary...
10 Ideas to Update Your Kitchen
The kitchen is one of the most important rooms in any home. It's where you cook and prepare meals, host friends and neighbors, and spend time with your family. If the kitchen is outdated, it’s time to make some improvements. Here are a few ideas to update your kitchen...
5 Reasons to Hire a Real Estate Agent
When buying a home, having the right real estate agent on your side can make all the difference. Real estate agents understand the ins and outs of the process, and they have access to resources that ordinary buyers don't. They can save you time and money while...
3 Ways to Boost Property Value
As a homeowner, you want your property to retain or increase in value over time. Fortunately, many projects can help increase the value of your home. From simple DIY tasks to complete renovations, here are a few projects you can do to make sure that your home is worth...
Facts About Energy-Efficient Doors for Your Home
Purchasing an energy-efficient door for your entryway helps reduce a home’s energy consumption. Depending on the climate and location, certain types of doors can be more effective than others. Having energy-efficient doors installed reduces heating and cooling costs,...
5 Ways to Promote Wellness at Home
It's no secret that our homes can significantly impact our physical and mental health. From the air we breathe to the things we touch and the noise levels we tolerate, many health hazards are found within our own four walls. Of course, we can't control everything in...
8 Ways to Prevent a Chimney Fire
Many homeowners enjoy building a fire in the fireplace when the weather gets cooler. While the fire is a cozy supplemental heat source, it’s essential to be aware of the dangers of a chimney fire. Fire can occur in the chimney when leaves, pine needles, creosote, or...
5 Steps to Paint Like a Pro
Painting is a great way to update your home without spending a lot of money. If you've never painted before, the project might feel a little daunting. We will walk you through the steps to paint like a pro. 1. Choose the Right Paint The first step to painting like a...
4 Common Concerns in Older Homes
Regardless of the quality of workmanship and the materials used during construction, specific components of a home can begin to fail with age. Below we’ll look at a few of the most common concerns in older homes. Talk to your home inspector if you are considering...
5 Ways to Allergy-Proof Your Home
If you or a member of your household suffers from allergies, there is a good chance that dust, pet dander, pollen, and mold trigger a reaction. While you may be unable to prevent allergies outdoors, a few measures can help you allergy-proof your home. How to...
If Your Home Smells Funny, Check These 4 Places
Sometimes, it can be challenging to figure out the source of the weird smell. Whether it’s the smell of rotten eggs, dirty laundry, pets, or wet socks, many everyday activities can cause your home to have an unpleasant odor. If you think your home smells funny, check...
4 Summertime Home Improvement Projects
For most people, summertime is about bare feet, beaches, and endless barbeques. However, it’s also an ideal time of year for homeowners to take on summertime home improvement projects. The warm, long days make summer the perfect season to complete home improvement...
6 Tips for Moving With Your Family
Moving is never easy, but moving with children adds another layer of complexity. It’s not easy to keep the kids occupied while you pack. You may struggle to explain why they have to leave their home and friends behind. Here are 6 helpful tips for moving with your...
5 Ways to Extend the Lifespans of Appliances in Your Home
Unfortunately, the appliances around your home are not designed to last forever. Appliances are expensive, costing hundreds or thousands of dollars, so you want them to last as long as possible. There are things you can do to make the most of appliances. Here are a...
7 Ways to Prepare Your Home For Spring
Are you fed up with winter and ready for warmer weather? If so, now's the time to prepare your home for spring. Even if it's still chilly outside, there are many things you can do both inside and outside your home to get it ready for the change of seasons. 7 Ways to...
6 Non-Toxic Houseplants That Are Safe for Children and Pets
Houseplants improve indoor air quality and can help reduce stress. However, when there are kids and pets in the home, it’s important to choose plant varieties that are safe. Some popular houseplants are toxic if consumed. If you enjoy caring for plants in your home,...
Fire Safety Tips for the Home
You’ve worked hard to make your home a comfortable place to live, and keeping your family safe goes hand in hand with that. One of the biggest threats to any home is fire. Every year, there are hundreds of thousands of fires that cause damage to or destroy homes....
7 Innovative Kitchen Storage Ideas
Keeping Your Kitchen Organized If you have a small kitchen, finding adequate storage can be challenging. While remodeling to create more room seems like an excellent solution, it may not be practical or possible. Learn to use the space you have efficiently. Here are a...
6 HVAC Maintenance Tips to Keep Your System Running its Best
Maintaining Your HVAC System The HVAC system has a big impact on the quality of air in your home. Maintaining the system is essential to keep it running at its best. An HVAC system is expensive, and the last thing you want is to have issues in the middle of summer or...
5 Fall Home Improvement Ideas
Getting Your Home Ready for Fall As the leaves begin to turn, many homeowners begin making their fall home improvement lists in preparation for the coming months ahead. It's important that your home is in great shape while also functional and safe for your family....
5 Upgrades for a Healthier Home
There are ways to make your home a healthier place to live. You want to keep your family safe, so put these upgrades for a healthier home into place. Add Carbon Monoxide Detectors Most homes have at least some smoke detectors installed, but carbon monoxide detectors...
5 Ideas for Garage Storage
Your garage can be a useful place for storage or a cluttered mess. By incorporating handy garage storage solutions, you’ll be able to fit more things in the garage and keep them organized. Use these 5 ideas for garage storage. Garage Storage With Pegboard Pegboard on...
5 Things to Look for in Your Home Inspection Report
When you’re in the market for a new home, you hope to find the perfect property for your family. Order a home inspection to better understand the condition of the house. A professional will examine the property for issues with the construction, household systems, and...
5 Ways to Reduce Cooling Costs
During the summer, most homeowners see their energy bills rise as the air conditioning works to maintain a cool temperature. There are ways to keep your home cool and use less energy. Follow these easy tips to reduce cooling costs this summer. Use a Programmable...
6 Easy Ways to Be a Better Homeowner
Owning a home brings with it a lot of responsibilities. By paying attention to things ranging from basic maintenance, fire safety, trash disposal, and the health and safety of the overall neighborhood, you'll be a better homeowner and a better neighbor. Take Care of...
Easy Home Renovation Projects You Can DIY
Quick and Easy Home Renovations Renovating your home is manageable when you focus on smaller spaces and projects. Check out these fun, inexpensive, and easy home renovation projects you can complete in a day. Revamp the Entryway The front porch and entrance are the...
Smart Tips to Sell Your House Faster
Putting a house on the market can be a time-consuming and stressful process. If you're on a tight schedule to get into a new home, hire a real estate agent for guidance and use these tips to help you sell your house faster. Curb Appeal is Important to Sell Your House...
7 Basic Tools Every Homeowner Needs
Whether you have recently become a homeowner or have lived in your house for a while now, you’ll always have projects to complete. From mounting a television on the wall and assembling furniture, to hanging art and patching nail holes, you’ll find that any job is...
How to Prepare for a Power Outage
It may be due to bad weather, scheduled maintenance on the power grid, or even because of a car accident, but at some point, you will lose power to your home. Don’t be caught off-guard. Make a plan to deal with an emergency situation and take steps to prepare for a...
4 Ways to Declutter Your Home
A clean and tidy home is more relaxing to live in and easier to clean. Make an effort this year to get rid of belongings you no longer use or need. Your living spaces will feel larger when they’re less crowded. The home will become a less stressful place to spend...
10 Ways to Keep Your Fireplace Safe This Winter
Once the weather turns cold, people are eager to start the first fire of the season in their fireplaces. Before starting your first fire of the year, you need to know how to keep your fireplace safe. Follow the ten tips below for before, during, and after your fire to...
6 Signs of Plumbing Issues at Home
Plumbing issues at home are simple to fix or disruptive and costly, and it can be hard for the average homeowner to determine the difference between the two. Often, plumbing problems go unnoticed until there’s obvious damage. Here is a list of 6 signs of plumbing...
4 Ways to Babyproof Your Home
Having a baby in your home presents a special kind of challenge. Whether there's a new baby in your family or one is just coming for a visit, your living spaces need to be modified to accommodate a baby. Taking steps to babyproof your home is essential to an infant's...
Smoke Detector Placement in the Home
Smoke detectors save lives and can reduce property damage in the event of a fire. Each year, thousands of fire-related deaths occur, mostly in homes with missing or inoperable alarms. A smoke detector gives an early warning of danger to your and your family members,...
12 Things Homeowners Need to Know
When you buy a home you become responsible for maintaining the property. If you lived in an apartment previously, you could call your landlord or property manager to handle any repairs. In your own home, upkeep is one of your jobs. When purchasing a house, here are a...
4 Homemade Cleaning Supplies Made from Simple Ingredients
Homemade cleaning supplies can be just as effective as those sold at the store. Plus, they are often less expensive to make and safer than store-bought products. Let's look at four cleaners you can make at home using items out of your pantry. Before you start, there...
6 Ways to Plan for a New Fence
Installing your own fence is a cost-effective way to add privacy and value to any yard. There are several things to do ahead of the actual construction that will make the project go smoother. Follow these six steps when you plan for a new fence. 1. Contact the Local...
Reasons to Request an 11th Month Warranty Inspection
Moving into a newly-constructed home, you may think that repairs won’t be needed for years to come. However, it’s common for new homes to show defects within the first year. That’s why you need to be vigilant and make good use of your builder’s warranty. Here are a...
5 Ways to Make a Healthy and Safe Home for You and Your Family
Your family's well-being is likely always on your mind. Many of your decisions involve keeping them healthy and safe: from what you cook for dinner, the car you drive, the rules you set, and much more. There are several things you can do to maintain a healthy and safe...
The Uses of Thermal Imaging in Home Inspections
Thermal imaging, also called infrared imaging, is a modern technology that displays the heat signature of items or areas. Thermal imaging in home inspections helps a home inspector detect issues that cannot be seen with the naked eye. The infrared camera displays...
Virginia Certified Home Inspectors
Virginia Certified New Residential Structure (NRS) Inspectors
