House hunting in the Winter, in the snow and cold, can never be considered fun. Read below, there are times when house hunting in the winter can be very beneficial. Rustic Exterior by Aspen Architects & Designers Forum Phi Architecture & Interiors – Are there any drafts. Will be easy to detect insufficient insulation, or air leaks around windows or … Read More
House Hunting – Bathroom Inspection
After the Kitchen the Bathroom can be the most expensive room to redesign or repair. There are many potential areas that can be water damaged in a bathroom. Below is information on trouble spots to watch out for in bathrooms when house hunting. FHA Bathroom Inspection Proper Sink Drainage Basement Bathroom Inspection Detecting Leaks For assistance in future house hunting, … Read More
Eclectic Kitchens
In the October 27, 2013 Chicago Tribune, there was on article that shared a survey conducted by Houzz.com on how granite counter tops and stainless steel appliances may be losing their luster. Here are the highlights from the survey: Stainless steel appliances are still popular, many are adding fronts to match cabinet color choices White is becoming a popular kitchen … Read More
House Hunting – What to Look For in Kitchens
When house hunting, and looking at kitchens and baths, a big consideration to keep in mind is kitchens and baths are usually the two most expensive rooms to remodel or update. This post from May of 2013 gives the average costs of remodeling a kitchen and bathroom. The other consideration when looking at kitchens is to look at the condition … Read More
Shingles, Flashing, and Roofing
In a previous blog post, one of the five big ticket areas to look at when house hunting is the roof and especially the shingles. If there are any leaks in a roof or the metal flashing that surrounds pipes and chimneys, water will find a way to seep in. Below is information on what to look for when house … Read More
Five Big Ticket Items when House Hunting
When house hunting, there are many aspects of a house that will be liked or disliked such as paint color, or size of the backyard. There may also be parts of the house that may need repair. Many elements can be changed or repaired with little effort such as repainting a room, the size of the backyard would be more … Read More
Radon
From WebMD Radon is a radioactive gas that is released when uranium-a natural element found in rock and soil-breaks down and decays. Radon can leak from the ground into a home or other building through cracks in the foundation or gaps around pipes. If a Radon test was requested as part of the home inspection, below is information on Radon, … Read More
Basement Flooring
One of the best options for expansion in many homes is to finish-off the basement. One of the biggest decisions is what type of flooring to use such as hardwood, carpeting, tiles, or staining the concrete. Moisture must also be accounted for, and how well the flooring will handle it. Below is information on how to choose the format of … Read More
Road Noise
Road noise is a problem that is present from day one when looking for a house, or when the house on a quiet 2 lane road in the country becomes a 30 lane highway. When house hunting, road noise does not necessarily have to be a deal killer. Below are ways to dampen road noise to have a quiet and … Read More
Online Neighborhood Information
Browsing online is an excellent way to house hunt. Finding information on neighborhoods and nearby parks, schools, and restaurants is not as easy. Listed below are tons of online resources to discover events and ways to find all that Michiana neighborhoods have to offer. Walk Score has tons of information about parks, schools, coffee shops, restaurants, and grocery stores that … Read More