Branch Property Investigations

December & January are peak months for house fires. Today's inspection 🏠 serves as a good reminder to be sure your home's smoke detectors are placed: ✅ In every bedroom ✅ Outside each sleeping area ✅ On every level ✅ In living room ✅ Near stairway to upper level ✅ In basement Carbon monoxide detectors should be placed in each major area of your house, including the kitchen, living room, & outside each bedroom. #safetyfirst

Big deal? ✅ Yes, today's cracked outlet is a safety hazard & should be repaired or replaced by an electrician as soon as possible. You should not touch or use a cracked outlet. Why? 🤔 🔥 Electrical Arc: When electricity passes through damaged components, it can create an electrical arc that can produce heat, sparks, or flames. 🔥 Loose Wires: Heat can cause wires to contract & expand repeatedly, loosening the screws & creating a short circuit. 🔥 Shock: Improperly handling live wires can cause serious harm or death.

Last-minute shoppers... Give the gift of health! 🎁 Radon testing is a great gift for loved ones. We'll email you a pretty certificate and the recipient can schedule at their convenience.

Without a cover, snow can easily fill a window well. 🥶 For egress windows, a snow/ice-filled well can make window operation difficult or impossible, which is a safety hazard.🔥 Covers also prevent people & animals from falling in. 🐇 We'll recommend today's buyers install a window well cover strong enough to walk on that does not interfere with window operation. ✅

Yesterday's inspection: We just heard from the buyer's agent that the seller was unaware of their home's roof damage (possibly from recent high winds). Seller has someone out today making repairs ahead of the snow, hoping to prevent a roof leak. Transaction seems to be moving forward... A win for all! ✅

Roughly 30k people are injured by garage doors in the U.S. each year! 😳 This doesn't include injuries that go unreported. We perform an Auto Reverse Test as part of every garage door inspection to ensure that the door stops if it comes into contact with an object or person. Today's door did not automatically reverse; this is a safety defect 🚫 & will go into the report. Even newish doors can have issues!

Lots of dirty filters this week! Improve your home's air quality for the holidays by cleaning or swapping them out if need be! ✅ #homeinspections

This white, chalky powder that you might find on the surface of a concrete or brick wall is called efflorescence. It can be a cosmetic issue, or it can be an indication of moisture intrusion 💦 that could lead to major structural and indoor air quality issues. We note it in our inspection reports 🧐 because it generally occurs where there is excess moisture, a condition that also encourages mold growth.

We always inspect for a heat source in bathrooms -- especially important this time of year! 🥶 Typically, there is a vent opening at the kick plate in front of a large vanity (if there's no other heat source). Our IF camera reveals the heat is there but the vent is missing! #homeinspection

If you're seeing 🧐 light pass through, it's time to replace your weatherstrip! High quality, properly installed weatherstrip helps keep your house warm in the winter & can lower your energy bill. It also serves as a first line of defense against pests. This observation will go into today's #homeinspection report! ✅