Category: Energy Efficient Homes

Look Out for Faulty Electrical Wiring in Your Home

Scorched Outlet

Concerned about DIY or outdated electrical work in your home or a home you’re thinking about buying? Faulty wiring can be expensive to replace and pose serious safety risks to homeowners. Today we’ll address a few telltale signs of bad electrical work to look out for. Hot Outlets Although electrical appliances may generate heat when… Read more »

Keep an Eye out for These Common Issues in Old Homes

Although there are no hard and fast rules for what constitutes an older home, those built before 1920 fall in the antique category. Since Chicago became a city in the mid-1800s, there is a substantial inventory of older homes in the city and surrounding suburbs. As such, it’s not uncommon for prospective buyers to find… Read more »

Common Problems Caused By Poor Roof Ventilation

First Choice Inspectors see a lot of roofs in Chicago and Aurora, Illinois. As inspectors, they look for common problems caused by poor roof ventilation. So, what do they look for? How is the Attic? Inspectors often look at an attic to figure out how the roof ventilation of a house is working well… or… Read more »

These Home Issues Can Be Signs of Serious Underlying Issues

Are you in the process of searching for a new home? If so, it’s important to keep a close eye out for issues that could require expensive repairs in the future. Some of these issues – like outdated electrical panels or cracks in the foundation—are pretty easy to spot if you know what to look… Read more »

Keep These Tips in Mind Before Buying a Foreclosed Home

Home inspections for foreclosed homes

 Buying a foreclosed home can be a worthwhile investment, but only if you’re careful to buy the right home. You can start by making a realistic budget that includes more than just the purchase price. It’s also always important to remember that you might have to spend more money on renovations and fixing the place… Read more »

What Problems Could Affect a Home’s Foundation?

When buying a new home, there are many things to consider. You want to find something that has enough bedrooms and bathrooms in it for your family. You also want to find something that has been updated and that matches your personal style. And then, there are things like the local school system and property… Read more »

Preparing Your HVAC System for Summer

Summer will be here before we know it. It won’t be long before you are relying on your home’s HVAC system and, more specifically, your home’s air conditioner to keep your house cool. But before you start using it on a regular basis, you should take the time to prepare it for the summer season…. Read more »

Why is It Important to Have Our Homes Inspected?

Small toy house is being looked at with a magnifying glass

Home inspections come in all sorts of shapes and sizes. Now, what we mean by that is that there are several different types of inspections you can have done on your home that will be of great value to you. Owning a home is very rewarding, but it does come with many difficult tasks to… Read more »

The Importance of an Energy Audit on Your Home

First Choice Inspectors regularly perform energy audits in and around Chicago. An energy audit involves professionals doing a comprehensive examination of a home or building’s thermal performance. In other words, where are the leaks? Heating and cooling a building costs money, and when there are leaks, the heat or cool air you’re paying for might… Read more »

Benefits of Replacing Your Home’s Old Windows

If you live in an older home, chances are you’ve experienced the hassles that accompany hard to shut, drafty and dingy old windows. There are a number of great reasons to consider replacing your old windows, and they cover both aesthetic and practical concerns. Here’s our list of the top three benefits of replacing old… Read more »