Are You Aware of The Radon-Status of Your Marshall, VA Home?

The history of Fauquier County, which hosts Marshall, VA, is quite interesting. It is said that the county was named after Francis Fauquier. He won the land through a poker game while he was governor of Virginia. He served in this capacity from 1758-1768. Fast forward to today, and you’ll realize that Fauquier County ranks at the top of high-income counties in the US.

Despite the prosperity in the county, Marshall, VA is not Radon-proof. That means despite the strong economy, we shouldn't let our guard down or gamble about our health. If you don't feel well-informed about Radon, the following post should get you up-to-speed:

Radon Testing and the 7 Key Things Every Homeowner Should Know

Radon testing is the only way to know whether your home has high levels of radon, a radioactive gas that can cause lung cancer over time. Here's what you need to know about radon testing and reducing radon levels in your home.

What is radon?

Radon is a colorless, odorless radioactive gas that’s produced by decaying uranium. It’s present in nearly all soils, and very low levels of radon are found in the air we breathe every day, according to the American Cancer Society.

Why is radon a problem?

The problem occurs when radon gas enters your home and gets trapped. Long-term exposure to high levels of radon can cause lung cancer. Read more at The Healthy…

Yes, Radon is a cause of cancer. The fact that Uranium is present in all soils doesn’t help. So it's worth the trouble to do your due diligence and get your home tested.

You’re probably wondering what you need to do before your home gets tested. It's advisable to take the time to learn what you can about Radon testing. The following post is a good place to start:

Short-term radon test kits are not effective in measuring radon gas exposure

A new study finds the only reliable way to measure exposure to radon gas is with a long-term testing kit, 90 or more days. Researchers placed two test kits, a short term (five-day) and long term (90-day) in the same homes. Tests were conducted during summer and winter months. Findings showed the short-term kits were imprecise up to 99 percent of the time when compared to a long-term test.  Read more at Science Daily…

If anything is worth doing, it’s worth doing well, as the saying goes. Don’t give yourself a raw deal. You may end up facing the exact problem you’re trying to avoid.

So, now that short-term tests aren’t effective, the best method of testing is what we need to establish. Should you get a DIY long-term test? Find out in the following post:

Radon Testing Kits vs. Professional Assessment

If you are a regular reader to this website, I think you understand the importance of radon testing.  It is a serious health issue and the second leading cause of lung cancer. “Should you have radon testing done?” is not the question per se; that is obvious.  But for many, the next logical question becomes “How should we perform radon testing?”.    Let’s compare radon testing with a professional assessment.

If you venture to any hardware store, you may find a DIY radon test kit that you can purchase rather inexpensively.  Is this the route to go? Do you really need to hire a professional radon tester?

Call me biased, but for most scenarios, I would recommend a professional radon expert with the appropriate credentials.  If I were asked “why you should hire an expert?”, I would answer in three words – “peace of mind”. Let me explain. Read more at Indoor Science…

By now, you understand just how critical it is to get proper Radon testing for your home. The next thing to do is to choose a provider.

The good news is, you don’t have to worry about where to get these services in Marchall, VA. At Bell Harig Home Inspections, we provide excellent Radon Testing services. You can count on us for a reliable report at a competitive price. Call us today to book an appointment.

Don’t Skip The Home Inspection Stage While Buying Your Culpeper, VA Home

The idea of buying a home in Culpeper, VA can be appealing for several reasons. For starters, this is the only incorporated town in Culpeper County, VA. This fact alone is a guarantee that you will enjoy good government services. Also, there is an elaborate transportation network that makes the movement to other cities easy if your job requires it.

Even so, regardless of how excited you are about your new home, don't forget your due diligence. The following post explains why you shouldn’t ignore a home inspection:

Importance of Home Inspection Contingency

Before you buy a home, one of the things you should do is to have it checked out by a professional home inspector. Yes, we can hear your objection: “Buying a home is expensive enough as it is! Why would I choose to fork over hundreds more if I'm not required to?” In this article, we'll delve into what a home inspection can reveal and whether it's worth the investment.

The Home Inspection Contingency

Home inspections are used to provide an opportunity for a buyer to identify any major issues with a home prior to closing. Read more at Investopedia…

A home inspection won’t be cost-free, however, it can save you lots of trouble and financial loss in the long run.

So, suppose you agree to get the inspection, and some issues are detected, what is your next step? The following post gives insight into what you should do next:

Your Options After a Home Inspection

A home inspection can help identify deficiencies in a home you’re considering purchasing. If the inspection reveals problems are at work or repairs are needed, you may be able to negotiate with the seller to fix those issues. You can also ask for credits toward your closing costs in order to make up for them.

If you have a home inspection contingency in place, and the issues your inspector finds are deal-breakers, you may be able to back out of the purchase entirely. If you decide to go this route, you should be able to receive the deposit you put toward the purchase back in full. Read more at The Balance…

Ideally, a home inspection shouldn’t get you stuck. It will clarify your next step, that is, whether to proceed with caution or abandon ship altogether.

So, if you decide to proceed with the deal, you also need to be clear about the role you and your seller play in this new development. The following post explains this:

Who Pays for Repairs After a Home Inspection?

A home inspection is one of the last hurdles that buyers and sellers have to get through before the sale of the property is complete. It’s also one of the most important. The inspection is a buyer’s final chance to identify any problems with the home that they’re investing in, including areas that are in need of repair. And it’s pretty common to want a couple repairs after a home inspection—especially in older homes. But who’s responsible for paying for them: the buyer or the seller?

As it turns out, there’s a lot that goes in to determining who pays for repairs after a home inspection. This includes the offer contract, as well as the types of repairs being requested and the laws in your state.  Read more at Moving.Com…

As with most things, ‘the devil is in the details' also applies to home purchases? As you go through the home buying process, don’t ignore anything written in the fine print. Work with a realtor who is concerned about your welfare as much as in getting a commission, if not more.

At the end of the day, what you need is a reliable home inspection. One that leaves no stone unturned and one that you can trust. If you are planning to buy a home in Culpeper County, Bell Harig Home Inspections is the company you can count on for excellent services. Reach out to us today.

How to Prepare for a Home Inspection

So you’ve listed your home, found a buyer, and accepted a purchase price. The sale of your house is almost a done deal, but it’s not quite time to pack the moving boxes yet – you still have to make it through the home inspection.

In a typical real estate transaction, the home inspection occurs after the buyer has signed a purchase agreement and before the final closing date. Most home buyers choose to make the closing contingent on the results of the home inspection, meaning that they can back out of the sale if the inspector finds something that is not to their liking and the seller is unwilling to repair it or lower the purchase price to account for it. As a seller, you’re going to want the home inspection to go as smoothly as possible, with little to no major issues detected.

But first: What does a home inspector do? During the inspection, properties are examined top to bottom, with emphasis placed on evaluating the roof, walls, foundation, plumbing system, electrical system, and HVAC system. Inspectors will also check for the operational ability of installed systems, such as garbage disposals and carbon monoxide detectors, as well as for leaks, mold, mildew, and other signs of water damage.

As a seller, it’s common to get nervous during the home inspection process. You don’t want the deal to fall through, nor do you want to be stuck with the cost and burden of repairs if your buyer requests them as a contingency. Fortunately, there are some things you can do to prepare for the inspection.

1. Provide open access to areas that need to be checked

Make sure that the home inspector has easy access throughout the property. If they can’t get to an area, they can’t inspect it, and that will be a red flag for buyers. Clear away any clutter impeding access to areas or systems that the inspector needs to take a look at, including basements, attics, furnace rooms, and under sinks.
   
2. Clear the perimeter

In addition to checking the interior functioning of your home, the inspector is also going to be looking at the exterior, including siding, trims, and caulking around windows and doors. You’ll want to leave areas around your home clear of plant growth, trash cans, and stored items so they can get an unimpeded look.
   
3. Check the roof

When’s the last time you took a good look at the roof of your house? For most sellers, it’s been awhile. The roof is a key part of the home inspection though, so you can’t ignore it in your preparations. Get out a ladder and clean moss and debris from the gutters, check for damaged or missing tiles, and make sure downspouts are in their proper position. If you do find damage on the roof, you’ll want to get it taken care of prior to the home inspection.
   
4. Keep a clean house

If you’ve already been going through the process of selling your house, you’re probably already pretty adept at this point at keeping everything clean and tidy. Resist the urge to let things build up after an accepted offer and maintain the same level of cleanliness for the home inspector. How clean your home is doesn’t play into the inspection itself, but a dirty or messy house may make the inspector suspicious that other areas of the property aren’t properly taken care of either.
   
5. Replace any bulbs that are out

A blown bulb suggests two things to a home inspector: either the bulb itself is out, or there’s something faulty in the fixture’s wiring. The inspector will either have to waste time determining whether a fixture is inoperable or they’ll simply note that there’s a possible defect without looking further into it. Avoid both of these scenarios by making sure that all of your bulbs are in working order.

6. Make sure your toilets are functioning properly

Does your toilet run for a long time after you flush? It’s a common problem that gets easy to ignore when you’re living with it every day, but it’s not something you want your home inspector to come upon. Fixing a running toilet is an easy and inexpensive repair you can take care of on your own with a simple trip to the hardware store, so take care of the problem before the inspection.

7. Put in a fresh furnace return filter

Regularly replacing the furnace filter in your home is important for air quality and the overall functioning of your heating system. Instead of making the inspector concerned that you haven’t been taking good care of your home’s heating and air, clean or replace the existing filter and show that it’s something you do pay attention to.

8. Turn all pilot lights on

The pilot light in your water heater is probably always on (and you would have noticed already if it wasn’t), but what about the pilot light in your gas fireplace? Many homeowners turn their fireplace off in warmer months, so it’s important to double check that the pilot light – and the fireplace itself – is working prior to inspection. If you’ve turned off your fireplace’s pilot light, now is the time to get it going again.

Read Full Article Here: How to Prepare for a Home Inspection