home inspectors nh – Advanced Home Inspection of New Hampshire

Jump The Water Fine! Fun in The Sun But Safety First In the Pool

There is nothing more fun or relaxing than jumping in your pool after a hard day of work or playing in the sun. Home pools are a great place for family fun, swimming, relaxing and gathering with friends. I can’t think of anything more soothing that floating on my back in my own backyard oasis. Or anything more timeless and endearing that watching my children scream with delight as they splash around in their own personal backyard ocean. But before the fun begins there are some important safety precautions that every pool owner needs to take to make sure that their family is safe when playing in their backyard oasis. Although water is relaxing, refreshing and a source of good times it can also be very dangerous if you don’t take the right steps to create a safe pool environment.

Is Radon Seeping into Your Home? The Silent Killer You Need to Know About.

I have bought and sold several houses in my lifetime, in several states and I never once remember having a radon test when I moved in or moved out. You may be in the same situation. Maybe you have never even heard of this radon and are wondering what the big deal is. Why would you need to worry about this? Quite simply, radon exposure can kill you and you may never know you have been exposed until it is too late. Radon exposure causes the second most cases of lung cancer in this country, second only to cigarette smoking. The difference is you may never even know that you have been inhaling small levels of radon for years, unless you take precautions and have your house tested and cleared of this gas.

The Consultant in Your Corner: What is Required to Become a 203k Consultant and Why You Need One!

Fifteen years ago I built a house in Gilmanton, NH. We were young and had a limited budget, so we decided to be the general contractors and often the construction workers as well. We cleared the land, mapped out the foundation, hired all of the contractors, filled out all of the paperwork and the list goes on. We used word of mouth and our own limited vetting skills to hire contractors, plumbers, electricians, and carpenters. I am sad to report that more than one of the “professionals” that we hired did not complete their work, didn’t show up on the days they were scheduled and requested payments that far exceeded their initial bids. Our lack of experience and knowledge cost us lots of time and money! In hindsight, I would definitely hire a general contractor, I wish I had, had someone to guide me through the complex process.

Icicles Can be a Sign of Danger! Ice Damming can Lead to Serious Damage!

As a child growing up in New Hampshire one of my favorite parts of winter was the beautiful icicles that would form on the gutters of my house. I was convinced that Jack Frost had left them just for me. Not only did I love the way they sparkled in the sun, but I would wait with great anticipation for them to fall off the roof so that I could have an icy treat. Little did I know then that they could be a sign of trouble to come. Not only could the larger ones fall and hurt someone, but they could be a precursor to ice damming on the roof. As a child you don’t think of all the dangers and damage that could be caused by those lovely prisms of ice, but as an adult and a home owner they are something to be feared.

What is an Ice Dam?

Advantages of a HUD 203(k) Rehab Loan for First-time Home Buyers

In this month’s Advanced Home Inspection blog, we discuss the many advantages of a HUD 203(k) rehab loan. With high home prices and low inventories throughout the state, many first-time home buyers in New Hampshire are entering the housing market with the help of a HUD 203(k) rehab loan.

What is a HUD 203(k) Rehab Loan?

The HUD 203(k) rehab loan is a specialized renovation or construction loan that’s backed by the Federal Housing Administration. It is unique in that people can borrow money equal to the estimated appraised value of their home after the repair work is completed. No other rehab loan (or other type of loan) offers this.
“Through a 203(k), you can get into a home at a lower price than you could through any other loan program,” says David Cassavaugh, licensed home inspector and owner of AHINH, one of the only certified HUD 203(k) consultants in NH.
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