Sometimes the sale of a home can hinge on the outcome of a home inspection. No buyer wants to hear that the inspection of their prospective home went poorly. As a real estate agent, you should always emphasize the importance of proactive chimney inspections to prevent any hiccups in the home buying process. It’s the [...]

As a homeowner, you want to take excellent care of your home and keep all of your family members safe. Chimney sweeps are an integral part of that goal, as they help to remove flammable material and obstacles from the chimney and ensure the structure of the chimney is sound. When do you know that [...]

As a real estate agent, you are one of the first places that your home sellers or buyers will go when an inspection returns with issues noted. It’s a great idea to familiarize yourself with some of the most common surprises that pop up during pre-listing chimney inspections and how to solve them. Masonry Problems: The [...]

Whether your home has had a fireplace for decades or you just purchased a home with a brand new fireplace tucked inside, knowing how to safely use it is essential. Fireplaces, when used and maintained properly, are very safe. However, when you don’t maintain them or pay close attention, they can lead to serious hazards [...]

Real estate professionals are expected to have a great deal of knowledge about not only selling homes but also different parts of the home. Chimneys have specialized vocabulary to describe different elements of the chimney, and understanding different vocabulary terms will help you to help your clients throughout the chimney inspection and home buying or selling [...]

If you’re a homeowner, there is a good chance that you have heard how valuable a chimney cap is to the short-term and long-term integrity of your chimney. Even though your chimney might seem strong and able to endure years of harsh weather and wildlife activity, installing a chimney cap can fortify it even more. [...]

As a real estate agent, you encounter hundreds of houses every year. While all of them might not have a chimney, many of them probably do. In many Maryland homes, chimneys can help residents to stay warm in the coldest months of the year. The issues can arise when working with a buyer or seller [...]

Winter isn’t the same without a warm fire to gather around on brisk nights, which is why homeowners like you enjoy having a fireplace. While the fireplace might be a centerpiece of your home, there’s a good chance you don’t spend too much time thinking about your chimney. Without regular maintenance and care, a hazardous [...]

Gutters might not be the most glamorous part of the home that you are selling, but they play a critical role in the structural stability of the home over time. Small issues during the installation process can snowball to basement leaks and foundation cracks. During the home inspection before your client sells their home, you [...]

Gutter guards are sold as a cure-all for gutter problems, as they are marketed as preventing all debris and build-up from entering the gutter and saving plenty of headaches as a result. However, their steep cost can make homeowners think twice, Should you install gutter guards? They Aren’t Foolproof Unfortunately, gutter guards do help to [...]