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The home inspection process can feel confusing right? If someone asked me about anything related to the medical field, I wouldn't have a clue where to start. You've found your dream home and you tell the realtor you want to put in an offer. The offer then gets accepted. Now your realtor says you should get a home inspection preformed on the property. Wait, what? A home inspection? Many first time home buyers don't have a clue what this is but it's OK! Many home buyers don't. After they've come accustomed to the fact they should have one, it's even more difficult to interpret what was found during the inspection and how severe the issues are. This is where J. Gregory Home Inspections stands out from many other companies. We like to hear questions from our clients about what's in the report. We always tell them "if you have any questions just ask". 

Many homes in the Navarre, FL area, that we inspect, are around 20 years old or newer. This is good because you may not see as many problems as you would in homes that are 25 years and older which would require a 4-point inspection from most lenders or insurance companies. This is probably a good reason why homes in Navarre are more expensive than the surrounding areas.

For more information about home inspections, visit us at our homepage or call us today at 850-396-6054.

Often times while preforming a home inspections in Pensacola, FL and surrounding areas, we find minor defects ranging from an interior door not opening and shutting properly to ceiling fans that don't work. Sometimes we find major defects. These defects can be safety issues with electrical components or material defects in the structure that can be costly. I would like to go over 4 of these major defects and explain why it's important to our clients when these issues are found.

1. Foundation; foundation issues such as large cracks due to separation are by far one of the most expensive repairs especially when it comes to concrete foundations. Crawlspace foundations consist of wood/concrete piers, wood girders,and floor joist which is mostly found in older homes. Sometimes I will find over stressed wood components or poor workmanship.
2. Electrical; this is one of the major safety issues I find in many older homes. When most of these homes were built, building codes were not enforced like they are today. I would find amateur wiring done by past homeowners (which is very unsafe). Sometimes I would find electrical components that were recalled many years ago still being used. 
3. Roof; a home's roof protects the interior from outside weather elements. It's one of the most important component of a home. A simple roof leak can create unseen costly damage to the interior
4. Plumbing; I notice sometimes homeowners would temporarily "fix" leaks thinking it's permanent. Plumbing leaks can also cause damage resulting in expensive repairs.

The number one hazard for children is falls, which are the leading cause of non-fatal injuries in the U.S. for this age group.  About 8,000 youngsters wind up in emergency rooms every day for injuries related to falling, adding up to almost 2.8 million per year.  With those statistics in mind, it is worth looking at what can be done to prevent such injuries in the home. If you're looking to buy a home in Pensacola and the surrounding areas, We at J. Gregory Home Inspections can help look for items that could pose as a safety risk to you and your family during our home inspections.

In trying to fathom how so many children can be injured on a daily basis from something as simple as slipping and falling, we need to consider an important factor, which is height.  Oftentimes, when observing small children at play, we are amazed at their dexterity and ability to take what looks like a fairly serious tumble and hop right back up, unfazed.  Likewise, a slip or fall for most adults, more often than not, leads to little more than a poorly chosen expletive being uttered.  However, imagine a small child falling a distance equivalent to the average height of an adult, and we begin to see where the danger lies.  With this to consider, let’s closer look at two of the most important areas to childproof in a home: windows and staircases.

 STAIRCASES
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The first thing that probably comes to mind when examining child safety in relation to stairways and staircases is a safety gate, and with good reason: falling down stairs can be a serious hazard for an infant or toddler who is just learning to navigate his or her surroundings. When properly installed, high-quality safety gates can help eliminate this possibility. 

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​WINDOWS
 
If the dangers associated with falling are compounded by the height of the fall, then windows can present an even greater concern than stairways.  It is estimated that more than 4,000 children are treated every year in emergency rooms for injuries sustained by falling from windows.  There have been at least 120 such deaths reported since 1990.  Risk of injury from window-related accidents in the home can be minimized by addressing
several common issues.

The first thing and simplest thing to do is to ensure that there is no furniture situated in areas that would make it easy for a child to reach and open or close a window.  Any furniture a child could potentially climb on should be moved away from windows. 

​Latches, Stops and Guards
 
As children begin to grow to heights where they may be able to access windows from a standing position, it is important to install secure, child-proof latches.  There are many types of window latches that, similar to safety gates, will allow an adult to easily open and close windows, but will prevent kids from doing the same. Also available are window stops, which will not allow the window to be opened wider than a pre-determined width.  The recommended opening, similar to balustrade spacing, should not exceed 4 inches.  This eliminates the possibility of a child or one of his limbs to pass through.  These stops are easily removable by an adult whenever necessary. 
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An additional option to consider is a window guard.  A window guard can be vertical or horizontal.  It attaches to a frame and can be removed by an adult, but will deter a child.  Guards have some form of bars or beams across them, which should be no more than 4 inches apart.  Window guards maintain the functionality of the window while ensuring a child’s safety while the window is open.  However, even with a guard installed, kids should not be allowed to play around windows, whether they are open or closed.  Try to open windows only from the top, if possible.  And never rely on window screens to keep a child from falling, as that is not the function they are designed for.
 
With some foresight, a few clever and fairly inexpensive products, and proper adherence to building codes, the risk of injury from falling can be successfully minimized.  Your InterNACHI inspector can assess the safety issues in your home, and advise you on the most effective childproofing measures to keep your family safe.