Category: News

Electric Baseboard Heaters

Posted on March 2, 2017 by oi_admin - News

Making sure your heaters are working properly and operating efficiently can go a long way in keeping costs down. To help you do just that, here are 10 things you might not know about your baseboard heaters.

Baseboard heaters are usually located under windows because it’s more efficient that way.
Heat rises - and so do your energy costs, for every degree above 68°F.
Cranking the thermostat doesn’t warm up the room any faster.
Thick carpet or rugs can get in the way.
Window coverings keep cool air out, but can block your heaters.
If it’s dusty, it’s not working properly.
Programmable thermostats are more precise than the manual ones.
Pick sweet 16 (degrees) to maximize your savings. 16°C (61°F) save up to 10% on your energy bills.
Baseboard heaters don’t circulate air well.
They’re one of the safest heating options available since they can’t tip over.

Where is Radon?

Posted on March 1, 2017 by oi_admin - News

Radon is a colorless, odorless, tasteless, and chemically inert radioactive gas. It is formed by the natural radioactive decay of uranium in rock, soil, and water. It can be found throughout North America. Testing for it is the only way of telling how much is present.

The EPA offers examples of where radon can enter a building structure:

Cracks in Solid Floors
Construction Joints
Cracks in Walls
Gaps in Suspended Floors
Gaps Around Service Pipes
Cavities Inside Walls
Water Supply

Steps to a Safer Home

Posted on February 28, 2017 by oi_admin - News

Is your home safe? Studies show that burglaries occur at an average of every eight seconds, 400,000 serious residential fires happen every year, and more child deaths result from accidents than from all diseases combined.

Though we can never be completely safe at home, we can take certain steps to dramatically reduce hazards and the possibility of injury or tragedy.

Make sure your home is fire-safe. Test every smoke detector in your house by pressing the test button. If it doesn’t sound an alert, replace the battery. Keep at least two fully charged, multipurpose fire extinguishers in your home: One in the kitchen area and one in the garage, located in clear view.
Prevent carbon monoxide poisoning. The surest prevention is to have a professional technician inspect flues and vents, chimneys, and any fuel-burning equipment.
Make your home more secure. A home security system can protect your house and family from burglary, carbon monoxide, and fire whether you’re home or away.
Be prepared for emergencies. Develop an escape plan and practice with a family drill. Each room should have at least two exits.
Make your home safe for children. If you have a swimming pool, pond or hot tub, be sure kids can’t get to it on their own. Never leave children unattended near pools or tubs.

Additionally, if you have small children in your home, check for poisons or objects that could be ingested, and eliminate the potential for falls.

Pre-listing Home Inspections

Posted on February 22, 2017 by oi_admin - News

You invest a great deal of time, money, and energy to market your listings, and you need to get a good return on that investment. Don’t be caught unaware of problems that could seriously undermine your dedicated efforts to sell a home, or that could keep a property from selling at its highest potential price. One of the best steps you can take to avoid this is to recommend a professional home inspection prior to listing.

A pre-listing inspection can uncover previously unknown problems – major and minor – allowing sellers the opportunity to make repairs, updates, or replacements as needed or as they wish. By addressing these issues before the home goes on the market, you can list a home with greater knowledge of its condition. This can result in cleaner offers and a smoother transaction for both parties. Having well-informed sellers and buyers will work to everyone’s advantage, including yours.

Be sure that the home inspection is comprehensive and that you will get the report immediately upon completion of the inspection. This will allow your sellers to get the information they need right away, so they can decide on their next steps prior to listing. Photographs should also always be part of a professional report so that full documentation of conditions is available to both the sellers and potential buyers. This is especially important when it comes to issues that might not be addressed or repaired prior to sale.

With a pre-listing inspection in hand, you can market your sellers’ homes with greater confidence.