Homewerx Home Inspection in Mesa, AZ

Category: Landscaping & Lot Grading

  • City of Mesa Offers Landscape Rebate To Conserve Water

    If you are a resident of Mesa and are looking for ways to reduce your household expenses (I think we’d all like to do that) you should check out the "Grass-To-Xeriscape" Landscape Rebate Program. 

    We all know that we live in a desert and that water is one of our most important resources.  In an effort to promote water conservation, Mesa is offering a $500 rebate to qualifying single family residences if you replace 500 square feet or more of existing lawn with Sonoran Desert appropriate plants. 

    If you would like more information or to see if you qualify, visit the City of Mesa’s website.

  • Can Masonry Homes Get Termites?

    Termite tube hanging from the ceiling of a masonry home in Phoenix, Arizona

    All types of homes can get termites!  See the termite tube hanging from the ceiling in the picture above?  This picture was taken inside a masonry home, but the little critters still found the wood!  Even if you have a brick or block home instead of a wood-frame structure, your home should be regularly inspected for termites and other wood-destroying insects.  Termites are commonly found throughout Arizona, and early detection is the key to preventing/minimizing costly damage to your structure.  Brand new homes can have termites too.  While the lot is usually pre-treated for termites prior to construction, that ‘barrier’ is often damaged when the landscaping is installed.

    You should have your home inspected for termites annually.  Homewerx Home Inspections can take care of both your home inspection and your termite inspection.

    Call for an inspection today!

    (480) 503-2611
    TOLL FREE:  1-888-THE-WERX

    Or Schedule Online!

  • Inspect Your Home After Arizona Monsoons

    Mesa, AZ sky just before a monsoon storm. If you have a leaky roof, you probably know about it after the last few weeks of rainstorms!  But rainy weather is a good opportunity to check more than just your roof.  For example, rainy/windy monsoon storms make it easy to tell how well your windows and doors seal up!  Rainy weather is also good time to check your lot for drainage problems.  You can easily see whether or not water is draining away from your house, and any place you notice significant water puddling may be an area where the grading needs attention.

    You should also walk around the exterior of your property and look for any damage Stormy Arizona sky during monsoon season. from the wind after a monsoon storm.  Pay special attention to areas where your landscaping might have been blown against your home. It would be a good idea to make sure all trees and shrubbery are trimmed away from your house before the monsoon season to prevent them from damaging the exterior of your home during windy weather.  You may notice pieces of shingles that have been torn from the rooftop and blown to the ground.  If you are extra motivated, you may want to get a ladder and look at your roof from the eave.  Be careful not to fall and don’t walk on a tile roof unless you are a professional!

    Nice clean swimming pool water before an Arizona monsoon storm. Your swimming pool also needs extra attention during the monsoon season.  Most pools and spas need more chemicals during the summer heat, and the windy monsoon season makes it almost impossible to keep the leaves and other debris out of the water!  Clean your pool, skimmers and filters more often, and pay closer attention to your water’s chemical levels during the Arizona summer months.

    These are just a few of the areas you should regularly inspect on your home.  Water damage is expensive and not much fun.  If ignored, it can even lead to mold and other problems.  Taking steps to keep your home properly maintained will be well worth the effort.

    If you have any questions, or are interested in having an Annual Home Maintenance Inspection, call us today!

    (480) 503-2611  Valleywide
    TOLL FREE:  1-888-THE-WERX

    Or Schedule Online!

    Because an ounce of inspection is worth a pound of repair!

  • Homeowners Need Inspections Too!

    Even when you are not buying or selling a home, you can still benefit from a home inspection in a variety of ways:

    We also inspect rental properties:

    • Landlord and Investor Inspections – performed regularly while tenants are living in your property
    • Renter Inspections – to help renters document existing damage and defects before moving into a rental property

    We even do Commercial Inspections!

    • Offices
    • Retail space
    • Apartment complexes
    • Other commercial properties

    So remember, home inspections are not just for buyers!  The longer you have owned your home or plan to own your home, the more important it is to have regular inspections in order to properly maintain your home and avoid costly repairs.

    Call for an inspection today!

    (480) 503-2611
    TOLL FREE:  1-888-THE-WERX

    Or Schedule Online!

  • Wildfire Season is Here – Protect Your Home

    You see it on the news.  Wildfire season is upon us.  Fires are constantly burning acreage all across the country, and Arizona is no exception.  Each summer, Arizona also sees numerous fires and hundreds of acres scorched due to our dry, desert conditions along with our extremely high temperatures and winds.  However, there are some easy steps you can take to protect your property this wildfire season:

    • Be sure that combustible materials are properly stored away from your house.
    • Be careful as you re-fuel garden equipment and routinely maintain the equipment.
    • Regularly check and maintain your irrigation system to prevent vegetation from getting dried out.
    • Immediately remove dead plants, trees, shrubbery and other debris from your yard, and yes… your roof too!
    • Never store firewood or other easily ignited items near your home.  Firewood stored near your home can also cause undesirable insect activity.
    • Regularly prune trees and trim overhanging branches.  The lowest limb should be no more than 6 to 10 feet from the ground.

    It is inevitable that wildfires will burn across Arizona this summer, like last.  However, taking a few simple steps can help protect your home and family from a wildfire.

  • Proper Drainage is Important to Your Foundation

    Buried Downspout Can Cause Foundation Problems

    Can you guess what the problem is here?  If you asked how is the water going to get out of this completely buried downspout, you’re right!  This condition is particularly bad for the foundation.

  • Did You Know Termites Can…

    Did you know that some queen termites can give birth every 15 seconds?*  You learn something new every day!

     

    *  Source:  Animal Planet’s Top 10 Most Extreme show

  • Termite Inspection & Wood Infestation Report (WIR)

    WE CAN NOW TAKE CARE OF BOTH YOUR HOME INSPECTION & TERMITE REPORT WITH JUST ONE APPOINTMENT**

    Termite Inspections & Wood Infestation Reports (WIRs)** – $65
    Offered in conjunction with a Home Inspection ONLY

    • Inspections 7 Days a Week, Valleywide
    • Lockbox Access
    • Online Scheduling
    • 5-Day Scheduling Guarantee*
    • Promise of Quality*
    • All Inspectors are ASHI® Members or Candidates
    • VISA & MasterCard Gladly Accepted
    • Walk Through with Inspector and Ask Questions
    • Get Your Termite Report** & Home Inspection with one appointment, and just one payment!
    • Courteous, Knowledgeable Staff
    • Highest Ethical Standards
    • Latest Technology
    • Full Service Inspection Company
    • Family-owned and operated since 1999

    CALL TODAY!!
    (480) 503-2611
    Toll Free 1-888-THE-WERX

    You can even SCHEDULE YOUR INSPECTION ONLINE!

    Because an ounce of inspection is worth a pound of repair!
     

    * 5-day Scheduling Guarantee means 5 business days.  All above special offers, promotions and guarantees apply in the Phoenix-metro area only, and other restrictions apply.  Call for complete details.

    ** Termite Inspections are scheduled by Homewerx, Inc. at the same time as your home inspection, but Termite Inspections are performed by Canyon State Termite & Pest Control LLC.  Only one appointment and one payment required!

  • Say Hello to Termite Season

    Say hello to termite breeding season.  That’s right, with the beginning of the new year we also begin the time of year where termite activity increases.  According to the US Department of Agriculture, over $750 million in damage is caused by termites each year.  That’s a lot of bugs. The good news is there are some easy things homeowners can do to help avoid these costly pests.

    According to the Arizona Structural Pest Control Commission, the most common termite in Arizona is the subterranean termite.  Therefore, a good barrier between the ground and the wood in our homes is extremely important.  Here is a list of things that homeowners should look for (source: Arizona Structural Pest Control Commission).  Although this list is not all inclusive, it will give you a good place to start.

    1. Cracks in foundation walls.  It only takes a crack 1/32 of an inch wide to give termites and other wood destroying insects hidden access to a house.
    2. Leaking pipes and faucets.  Termites as well as other insects, seek out moisture for survival. Leaking pipes can keep wood and soil continually damp and create a perfect home for termites.
    3. Wood debris around and under a house.  Pieces of scrap lumber or firewood kept next to a structure can support a colony of termites.
    4. Sprinkler systems or bubblers placed near the outside wall of a structure.  Excessive watering can dilute pesticide treatments around foundation walls.
    5. Flower planters. Planters allow hidden and direct access to unprotected siding and cracked stucco when built in direct contact with a house.
    6. Trellises and wooden fences.  If a trellis or wood fence touches soil and is in contact with a structure, it provides a direct link between the subterranean termites in the soil and wood in the structure.

    All of these conditions are things that termites and termite inspectors look for, and so should the homeowner.  By eliminating these conditions, you can reduce the risk of infestation.  However, it is important to remember that all homes are at risk to termite infestation, even masonry structures.  See MPEG movie of termites (Source: Arizona Structural Pest Control Commission)

    If you have any concerns, be sure to call a professional to check it out before that termite takes a bite out of your house and your wallet.

  • What Does a Home Inspection Include?

    We inspect in accordance with the Arizona BTR Standards and ASHI® Standards.  A standard home inspection includes the following:

  • Air Conditioning
  • Built-in Appliances
  • Electrical System
  • Exterior of the Home
  • Heating System
  • Insulation & Ventilation
  • Interior of the Home
  • Plumbing System
  • Pool & Spa
  • Roofing Components
  • Structural Components

    • Termite Reports & Environmental Inspections are not included in a standard home inspection, but can be done for an additional fee.