• New Home Move-in Checklist

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    Packing up your entire home and relocating can be extremely overwhelming. In order to make the move a smooth transition, there are a few things to check up on at your new home prior to moving in. Avoid any extra stresses by checking off these five tasks for your new home.

    • Change the Locks

    Changing the locks on all your doors is an important step to feeling safe in your new home. As kind as the previous owners may have been, it’s nice knowing there isn’t anyone out there but you that has a key to your home. It’s best to schedule this task before moving all your belongings in to avoid any time period of unsecured doors during the transition. 

    • Deep Clean the House

     Hopefully, the previous owners took care of cleaning and preparing the house when they first moved out, but there are some areas to check on just to be sure the place is in pristine condition. It’s easiest to clean the hard-to-reach places before you move in and there aren’t any objects in the way. Some areas to deep clean might include inside cupboards, the washer and dryer, fridge, oven, stove, and dishwasher. Do not forget to check the curtains. Most window decoration is washable, but sometimes it needs to be replaced. Pax Raamdecoratie is a very good supplier of all kinds of blinds.

    • Inspect for Mold

    The last thing you need is to settle into your new home only to discover it has a mold issue. The minimum you should do is at least inspect for leaks, odors, or visible signs of mold throughout the house. However, now is the prime time to schedule a mold inspection and cleanup to detect the air quality of your home and find any hidden mold. 

    • Check Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Detectors

    Speaking of air quality, make sure to check the carbon monoxide detector and smoke alarms throughout the house. It’s a relief knowing that your home is equipped with up-to-date and working monitors for you and your family’s safety. If the house doesn’t have a carbon monoxide detector yet, then now is the perfect time to purchase and install one before moving in.

    • Inspect the Plumbing

    Make sure that the plumbing is in mint condition before moving in rather than discovering it too late. Check for leaks and any signs of water damage, and make any appointments you need to fix leaks and issues. This will not only make things run smoother, but it will also save your water bill. While you’re at it, take a look at the water heater as well. Now is a good time to flush your water heater of sediment and check if it has a water softener as well.

    There is already a long list of to-dos when it comes to moving out of your house, but many things go overlooked and forgotten when it comes to the new house. Give careful consideration to the different tasks listed to make your new major change a little easier. You will feel confident and relieved moving into your new home knowing you’ve changed the locks, deep cleaned the place, inspected for mold, checked the air and alarms, and inspected the plumbing.

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  • minimizing mold in your home

    Dean Dowd runs a blog devoted solely to remodeling issues at Calfinder.com. Calfinder is probably the only one of a class of sites – those that purport to find you a handyman, contractor or skilled craftsperson near you for a particular project – that actually work well, due to the extensive screening process & database that they are continually updating and finessing.

    Thanks to Dean for having one of his staff write this article – specifically for Hewn & Hammered – on identifying, treating and preventing housemold mold:

    Whether you are planning a bathroom remodel or have just completed one, it’s important to remember that the work doesn’t stop there. Because even the most spotless home contains some degree of mold, homeowners must stay vigilant at recognizing the signs of excessive mold growth. Mold is a substance that creeps up on old and new homes alike. When mold begins to multiply indoors, the outcome can affect your health as well as the health of your home. This includes damage to building materials, household goods, and furniture. Breathing mold in or coming into physical contact with mold can result in various health symptoms, including allergies, asthma, infection, irritation, and even toxic effects.

    What is mold?

    Recognizing mold begins with an understanding of what the substance is and where it comes from. Mold is a type of fungus that floats in the air and rests upon surfaces. There is no way to avoid mold altogether, as small particles of mold are found everywhere in indoor and outdoor air.

    Molds thrive in areas with high moisture and humidity, such as neighborhoods in fog banks or in specific rooms of the house, such as the basement or shower. Moisture can result in a variety of ways, from faulty pipes or building leaks to poor ventilation and regular use of a humidifier. Mold spores spread via water particles and act like seeds in search of the right conditions to spread.

    To grow and multiply, mold needs 3 things:

    • moisture for growth
    • space for growth
    • nutrients for growth, such as wood or sheetrock

    When should you worry?

    Now that you know the basic character of mold, what should you do about it? If you can easily see and smell your mold, you may have an issue that needs fixing. Mold stains look fuzzy, cottony, or leathery and can appear in various colors. Since it normally appears where there’s moisture, check for mold in areas exposed to water. Mold has a pungent musty smell. The good news is that visible indoor mold can usually be cleaned off hard surfaces.

    Some forms of mold produce chemicals called mycotoxins. These can result in more serious health effects. Sampling the air for mold cannot be done visually and would require professional testing.

    What should I do about it?

    Simply cleaning mold as soon as it appears can prevent it from becoming a problem. Check for mold between bathroom tiles and even in the folds of your shower curtain. Wear rubber gloves and goggles and use a regular cleaning detergent or commercial mold remover to wash it off. Afterwards, throw away the rag or sponge you used to do the clean-up and dry the area thoroughly. Wet surfaces in the home should be dried completely within 24 hrs.

    Prevention is an important precaution to take to keep the nasty mold spores away. Some simple ways to prevent mold include the following:

    • regularly open windows to ventilate the house
    • immediately clean small and large spills
    • maintain a 30-60 percent humidity level
    • avoid carpeting in basements and carpets
    • add mold inhibitors to paint
    • replace carpets or other water-absorbent materials after soaking
    • quickly investigate and address underlying problems, such as leaks

    If you’re worried about having a mold variety with mycotoxins, hire a professional to extract a sample and test it for dangerous substances. Attempting this alone can increase your risk of exposure.

    Want more information? Here are some helpful links about mold:

    Creative Commons-licensed photo courtesy of Flickr user Angelo Juan Ramos