Four Common Home Hazards

A friend of mine owns a Pillar to Post franchise.  They do home inspections for buyers and sellers during Real Estate transactions.  Here are a few pointers that are worth mentioning.  These are common hazards that home inspectors find:

1- Faulty wiring.  Overloaded circuits, loose wires, missing covers on distribution boxes, abandoned appliances, or aluminum wiring, which can be problematic with age.

2- Loose Guard Rails.  Stairway guardrails, especially on exterior stairways, that are not securely connected.  Decks, often installed by homeowners unfamiliar with building codes, many times have loose boards.

3- Shower Doors.  Shower doors that lack safety glass and are not properly secured are common.  A homeowner who slips when stepping out of the bathtub and grabs a glass door that isn’t properly fastened could be severly injured.

4- Drainage Problems.  Downspouts discharging next to an exterior wall or a negative grade that slopes toward the home and brings water toward the home are problems.  This causes foundation deterioration and can lead to water damage, often seen in the basement.  Look for cracks, foundation wall stains and musty, damp smells.

 If you are planning on selling your home, or welcoming a new baby, it would be a good idea to have an inspection and then deal with each of the serious items BEFORE the house goes up for sale or the baby comes home. 

Some other potential dangers in homes are stockpiles of household items, such as paint solvents, pesticides, fertilizers and motor oils.  These items can create dangerous situations if not stored or disposed of properly.  They can cause illness or even death if small amounts are ingested.  Especially if you have children, organize these items and keep them in a secure place that is not accessible to young children.

Tags: chemicals, decks, hazardous, home, home inspections, inspections, mildew, mold, must, paint, plumbing, real estate, solvents, water, wiring