Standard Inspections
A complete inspection with a written report designed to inform and
educate a buyer about the overall condition of the home.
Child-Proofing Windows and Stairs
The Number One hazard for children under the age of 19 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.
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.
Residential Fire Sprinklers
In a growing trend that many say will save even more lives than smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors, fire sprinklers are now available for residences.
Residential fires destroy an alarming number of lives and property. In 2007 in the U.S., there were 414,000 residential fires that caused:
- 2,895 fire deaths;
- 14,000 injuries; and
- $7.5 billion in property damage.
Residential sprinklers, listed by the Underwriters Laboratories (UL), are now available to homeowners. The development of chloro-polyvinyl chloride and other listed non-metallic pipe has simplified installation, making sprinkler systems more cost-effective. Because of their improved sensitivity, they are designed to respond to fires much faster than standard commercial and industrial sprinkler systems.
10 Inspector Questions
1. How long have you been in business?
In any business, experience is valuable, so the longer the company or individual has been in business the better, but it is important to remember that this experience should be in actual home inspection, not construction or related fields.
A. The company has been in operation for more than 9 years. The owner has been inspecting for 9 years and is a Certified Master Inspector. Three of our inspectors are also a Certified Master Inspectors. This is our job, we do not have additional jobs and do this on the side.