ASK THE ENGINEER:
How do I know if there is mold in my house? How harmful is mold?
All mold has the potential to cause harmful health effects. In fact, most people underplay the importance of mold inspections and do not take up the proper defenses against mold. Since mold can go unnoticed until it is too late and your family’s health has been effective, it is crucial to know the mold warning signs. Here are some of them:

1. A strange/musky odor. Mold has a pungent smell, and when it is clustered in one area, that area will usually smell. As mold often hides behind walls and wallpaper, it can go unseen, but the smell will linger. It is best to assume that mold may be the culprit of a foul odor and have a professional engineer inspect the area right away.

2. Dampness. If you have areas in your basement, bathroom, or anywhere else in your house that collects dampness often, these areas are breeding grounds for mold. Check for the appearance and smell of mold, and do everything in your power to keep these areas dry. If you see or smell mold, contact a mold professional right away.

3. Health symptoms. Mold is not always visible, and mold may not always smell, but if you or a loved one is already experiencing a change in health, then mold may be the culprit. Some physical signs that indicate the presence of mold include listlessness, congestion, asthma, and watery eyes. If these symptoms persist with no apparent cause, have a trained professional check for mold in your home.

ASK THE PEST CONTROL EXPERT:
How do I know if I have termites?
Termites leave a lot of indicators of their presence. These notorious wood and plant eaters can cause a great deal of damage to homes and buildings, so it is important to take care of them early and to always be on the look-out for them. To look for termites, check for the following signs:

1. Mud tubes. A mud tube is a very small tunnel (about the size of a pencil) built by the termites in the ground. The tunnel connects the termites’ nest to their feeding site. Check your basement and yards for these small tunnels, which will look like grooves in the ground. If you find any, you probably have an infestation. Be sure to use a flashlight when you check for mud tubes, as they can be tricky to find.

2. Wood damage. Check the wood or trees in your yards by your home. If you break a piece of wood opened to find it honeycombed or caved out, the damage was likely caused by termites. Even if you only find wood damage in the area outside of your home, the termites are already far too close for comfort, and you should seek professional help immediately.

3. Swarms.Termites tend to swarm right before a rainstorm. If you see this, it is a sign of an infestation, and you should seek help right away. If you do not see the swarm, you may see the after effects: piles of termite wings and feces on the ground are indicative of a swarm.

Always keep mulch and wood piles as far away from your house as possible, and check your wood for holes monthly. Contact a pest control specialist to get rid of the problem!

ASK THE MORTGAGE LENDER:
I want a mortgage, but my credit isn’t great, is there anything I can do?
While having less than perfect credit will admittedly make it more difficult for you to secure a loan, it is not impossible. Lenders will want to look at your credit report, employment history, income, and the amount of debt you are carrying. Request a credit report from all 3 bureaus: Equifax, Experian and TransUnion. If you have a poor credit score, it is important for you to have a large amount of cash available for a down payment – maybe so much as 25% or more. This will decrease the amount of money you must borrow from the bank, and make you a better candidate for a loan – you are less “risky” in the eyes of the lender. Having a good portion of the purchase price of your home available as down payment money will also show lenders your sincerity and commitment to purchasing your home – and this also causes you to appear less risky. Remember, if you have a history of not paying your bills, a bank will not want to lend to you! Always keep a paper trail of bills you have paid to show that you are reliable and responsible, and be ready to furnish these to a lender to prove your reliability. A Mortgage Lender can help you through this entire process.

ASK THE MOVERS:
How far in advance should I hire movers before I move?
You want to begin getting estimates from moving companies as early as possible. This is even more important in the summer, which is usually the busiest season. Any moves out-of-state and further require about 8 weeks of preparation with the moving company. If you're moving out of state in 3 weeks, you may be out of luck! The larger the move and the amount of items you're moving, the more manpower and resources (trucks, handtrucks, etc.) you will need. A good moving company will provide you will all that you need, but will need some time to prepare and schedule the allocation of its resources, so it is in everyone's best interest to begin scheduling with movers as soon as possible. Because of this need to allocate resources, you will likely be charged more by most moving companies if you wait until the last minute. So, to save money, start early.
If you're moving within the same city, we suggest scheduling with a moving company 2 weeks in advance. As always, the earlier, the better!

ASK THE ENERGY AUDITOR:
What's the benefit of getting an energy audit done on my home?
If you ask a window installer to come to your house and see if you need new or more efficient windows, what do you think he's going to tell you? (That you need new windows, of course!) The same goes with a heating systems expert, roofer, or HVAC company. An energy auditor has no ulterior motives when he or she comes to your home – an auditor is only interested in how efficiently your home uses energy. If he suggests certain upgrades, then you can be sure that these upgrades are investments that will increase the value of your home, save money over time, and make your energy use more efficient. They use objective tests, such as blower door tests, to measure the amount of air leaking into the home and pinpoints where it is coming from. An auditor may then conduct an infrared scan, to analyze the interior of your walls and check for irregularities.
Remember, an energy auditor comes to your home with an objective point of view and is there to educate you on the best ways to conserve!

ASK THE ARCHITECT:
What is the difference in hiring a draftsman vs. hiring an architect?
The truth is, you cannot afford not to hire an architect, especially if you are building fundamentals. Hiring an architect will save you mistakes and money down the road, and assure you that you are getting quality craftsmanship done to your home. If you hire a draftsman, you are only getting a drawing of a house. An architect, on the other hand, offers many valuable services, and knows better about ensuring stability and longevity in what he creates for you. A draftsman typically will not give advice on how to prevent depreciation of your home over time, while an architect will surely do so. So, if your interest is in the easy maintenance of your house over decades, go with an architect.

ASK THE HOME STAGER:
Why should I spend money on a house stager? Can’t I just do it myself?

It is difficult for home owners to see the flaws in their homes, and it is near impossible to view your own home objectively. This is why it is crucial to have a professional, non-partisan observer come in and show your house in a new light that will please potential buyers – and earn you more money! House staging is always worth the time and investment, as it could net you thousands of more dollars in the selling of your home. Remember, the conservative average is a 6% increase in the selling price of a house after it is staged. This means if you’re house can sell for $500,000 unstaged, then if staged it can sell for around $530,000. This is a huge difference! And with staging fees costing only in the hundreds of dollars, it is a worthwhile investment. No matter the condition or value of your house, making it look its best will net you more money for it.