When a home inspection is waived prior to purchasing a house, it is very difficult to win a lawsuit down the line. What happens if you discover water flowing below the floor in a newly-purchased house and you have to completely gut the basement to remove toxic mold? Who is responsible? That was the problem facing Eric Brown and his mother, Louise, after they bought a house on MacHenry St. in Forest, Ont., from Gary and Kim Cassidy in October 2011. During his first inspection of the house, Eric asked Gary if he had ever had any water problems in the basement and…

Besides your fuzzy slippers, do you have what it takes to defend against winter’s chill? Snow and cold sure are a whole lot more tolerable when you’re anticipating a snow day (no need to go the office!) instead of suiting up to catch the bus. The freezing temps seem to seep right into the marrow of your bones. That happens to your home, too. And like you, if you don’t protect it from the elements, the results would be, well, let’s just say, not good. Here’s how to keep your home safe and your bones warm. How to Prepare for Blizzards The Get Prepared…

Don’t break your back shoveling snow. Try these tips to make winter less of a burden. If you’re a homeowner in Niagara or any snowy climate, chances are good you disdain winter: All that snow has to get shoveled, and it’s not drifting off your driveway itself. Cue the snow shovel. Barring a move to the Carribean or barricading your family inside all winter, there’s no way to avoid the endless task of shoveling snow. There are, however, ways to make the process much easier. Here are three simple hacks to make the morning after a snowfall much less stressful. 1. Spray Your Shovel…

Your roof is a critical component to keeping your home protected, but gets little love. Here is what an inspection of your roof should include. Some people generally make a habit of taking a good look at their roof in the autumn, before a long winter sets in. Unfortunately, many others do not. Unless you are having trouble with visible leakage, checking the roof a bit more often than once a year is advisable. Roofing material, like anything else, is subject to wear and tear, and is your first line of defense from the elements. Because every region of the country…

Many Canadians are looking to renovate older homes that contain lead paint. Here is what you need to know. The risks of lead Some older homes in Canada may have lead-based paint on the walls. Removing, repairing or disturbing this paint through normal wear-and-tear (such as paint on doors, windows, stairs and railings) can expose you and your children to serious health risks: lead poisoning can cause anaemia (a deficiency of red blood cells) as well as brain and nervous system damage. The risk is greatest for children because they are growing and absorb lead easily. Even small amounts of dust with lead…

Avoid winter’s nastiest tricks. Wintry weather is great at turning up problems you didn’t even know you had. Like that first snowy night in front of your fireplace that you thought was pure bliss — until you noticed a leak in the ceiling corner, which apparently was caused by a lack of insulation. How were you supposed to know that? Many homeowners don’t realize they’re making critical missteps that can cost a ton when winter sets in. Here are seven wintertime mistakes homeowners often make (and what they could cost you!): 1. Not Buying a $2 Protector for Your Outdoor Faucet What It’ll Cost…

A New York City designer shares secrets to making a small bath both functional and beautiful. Got a small bathroom to renovate? Go wild with texture and colours if it's a rarely used guest bath, but stick to clean and simple in a master bath. That's the word from designer Jamie Gibbs, who transforms incredibly small New York City bathrooms into beautiful spaces. "I like being shocked by details in a little space, especially if it's not going to be used much," Gibb says. His small-bath secrets: Avoid textures in bathrooms that get daily use. In a heavily used bathroom, anything with texture becomes…

Common maintenance tips on getting your dishwasher to wash the dishes properly, and reduce the amount of detergent that you need to use. The most common cause of a dishwasher not washing the dishes well is improper loading- so if you're letting the kids load pot on top of pan covered by a bowl, you might experience food and waste stuck on the dishes after the wash. If you load your dishwasher properly, and it still doesn't wash dishes quite the way you would like, read on! (You may even save some money on detergent by following this maintenance tip) Assuming you…