Posts made in January, 2015


7 Easy Hacks to Lower Your Electrical Bill

7 Easy Hacks to Lower Your Electrical Bill

Here are 7 easy and relatively inexpensive hacks you can do right now to lower your electric bill every month and not break the bank doing it.

  1. Turn Off Electric “Vampires”: Devices such as computers, small appliances, televisions, cable boxes, game consoles are sucking up energy even when they are not in use.  Group your cords by location in your home and then plug the cords into a power strip that you can easily turn off when you go to bed or leave the home.  If that’s too much trouble, programmable power strips are available at hardware stores for a minimal cost.
  2. Switch Out Those Light Bulbs: Besides turning off lights in rooms when not in use, compact fluorescent lightbulb are slightly more expensive than their regular incandescent counterparts but the return on the investment is huge and they last longer. Can’t afford to do it all at once, change bulbs one room at a time.
  3. Ditch the Switch and Dim That Light: Besides creating a mood, dimmer switches are easy to install and give you more options for lighting besides on and off. Make sure your dimmer is compatible with your compact fluorescent lightbulb. Newer dimmer switches will actually conserve energy when you’re not lighting the bulb at full capacity. Be sure to turn off the electricity first!
  4. Switch to Reusable HVAC filters: You’ll save money in the long run because your unit will be more energy efficient and you’ll extend the life of your HVAC system.
  5. Use Electricity During Off-Peak Hours: You will pay more for electricity during peak times because of the demand. Avoid using appliances and charging your techno gadgets during these hours. If you don’t know what your area’s peak hours are, you can call your local energy provider and ask. The peak hours vary by season, especially here in Florida.
  6. Use Slow Cookers, Pressure Cookers and Microwaves: The first one is slow and the next two are fast but they all use less energy than your range and oven.
  7. Get a Programmable Thermostat: You can program these thermostats based on your family’s needs and schedule. They are inexpensive at about $25 and available at your local hardware store.

Having a full Home Inspection done by Buy Your Side Home Inspections will take all the guesswork out of determining the condition of your home. When the inspection is complete, you will be advised of any problems that were discovered and we will discuss solutions or needed actions.

Call Tommy Joynes of Buy Your Side Home Inspections at 407.780.0911 today!

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Construction Features That Reduce Wind Damage and Loss

Construction Features That Reduce Wind Damage and Loss

As the Northeast tries to cope with a historic blizzard bringing hurricane force winds, Floridians should be reminded that we have our own share of hurricane force winds.  It’s not too early to begin thinking about your roof’s ability to withstand hurricane-force winds. Wind Mitigation Inspections offer significant discounts to those who provide proof that their homes can competently reduce heavy windstorm damage. Call us now to see if you qualify for these discounts.

Being so close to the ocean guarantees that we will be prone to hurricanes. What does this mean for the average homeowner in Central Florida? This means storms will be potentially knocking at your rooftop beginning June 1, 2015 with incredibly strong and damaging winds. Do you know if your home has what it takes to make it through successfully? Buy Your Side Inspections is your solution.

The certified home inspection professionals at Buy Your Side Home Inspections have the tools, knowledge and experience to make sure your home can endure the upcoming storms while also saving you money. 407.780.0911.

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6 Tips for Maintaining Your Roof


Posted on Jan 23, 2015 | 0 comments

6 Tips For Maintaining Your Roof

6 Tips For Maintaining Your Roof

Your roof is a major component of your home protecting the structure from all kinds of things that want to invade and damage the interior. At Buy Your Side Home Inspections, inspecting all the components of the roof is what we do everyday.

Here are 6 tips you can easily do to maintain and extend the life of your roof.

  1. Inspect your roof a minimum of  twice a year (especially after major storms) from ground level using binoculars.  Viewing your roof from a neighbor’s home with their permission can also be another vantage point.
  2. Remove excess debris such as leaves, sticks and any other material that may be caught inside your gutters.
  3. Trim tree branches to prevent them from hanging over your roof.
  4. Examine caulking around chimney vents and reseal if necessary.
  5. Repair and/or replace missing tiles or shingles before further roof damage occurs.
  6. Check skylight seals for leaks and reseal if necessary.

If your home needs a checkup, Buy Your Side Home Inspection will ensure that your home is in top condition or let you how to get it that way in the most financially sensible manner. Call Central Florida’s most respected Home Inspection Service. 407.780.0911.

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The Good, The Bad and the Ugly!


Posted on Jan 21, 2015 | 0 comments

Foreclosures Drop

Foreclosure Filings Drop

The housing market is on an upswing and the good news is that foreclosure filings in the US have dropped by 18% in 2014 which represents the lowest level since 2006, according to a report filed by RealtyTrac, a real estate data company headquartered in California (via Forbes).

The bad news is that the monthly level of completed foreclosures remains above the 2008 pre-crisis levels. November 2014 saw 41,000 completed foreclosures which is nearly double the monthly average before the housing crash (via CoreLogic) From 2000 to 2006, the U.S. averaged just 21,000 completed foreclosures per month.

The ugly news . . . RealtyTrac reports that despite a 4% drop, Florida still remains the hardest hit state with the highest foreclosure filing rate in 2014 (2.3% of all housing units with a filing),

The opportunity: Central Florida continues a slow but steady rising median sales price of Orlando area homes. The median price rose 7.5 percent from September 2013 to September 2014 (per Orlando Regional Realtor Association). With the relatively low interest rate, Central Florida homes are considered a good value at affordable prices.

When you’re ready to put your home on the market or purchase that next home, call Buy Your Side Home Inspection 407.780.0911 for a professional home inspection. We’re Central Florida’s most respected Home Inspector.

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10 January Home Maintenance Tips

10 January Home Maintenance To Do’s

Hopefully, you’ve taken down and stored your holiday decorations by now. If not, this should be the first item on your January checklist. Here are some other suggestions you should consider doing to keep your home in tip top shape.

  1. Create an inventory of your home’s furnishings and valuable possessions to use should you need to file an insurance claim. Take pictures of the inside and outside of your home.
  2. Replace your HVAC filter or wash permanent filters.
  3. Clean under and behind your refrigerator including the coils. Check the refrigerator’s water filter to see if it needs replacing.
  4. Deep clean your stove, oven and range hood fan.
  5. Give your drains a good cleaning by adding one-half-cup baking soda followed by one-half-cup white vinegar. After 10 minutes, flush with boiling water.
  6. Clean lint from under laundry appliances, especially the dryer. Use specifically-designed tools to carefully clean the lint filter and dryer vent outlet.
  7. Test smoke and carbon monoxide detectors and check the charge on your fire extinguishers.
  8. Check and test GFCI (Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter) outlets to make sure they are working properly.
  9. Check grout/caulking in tile and marble in wet areas (showers, sinks, etc.); repair as needed.
  10. Drain the water from your water heater to prevent sediment built up,

Buy Your Side Home Inspections protects home buyers all throughout Osceola County with the most thorough and affordable home inspections available. Call 407-780-0911 for more Information on how to save money by doing a Home Inspection!

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