Identifying Safety Hazards During Your Home Search

Buying a home is stressful. The whole process is overwhelming due to it being such a large dollar amount coupled with wondering if you’ll actually get the loan. Then on top of itall, you want to make sure the home you are buying is safe for your family.

Studies show the major causes of injury in a home revolve around  people falling, getting poisoned, home fires and choking. And then the concerns go to hazards and toxins like carbon monoxide, lead paint, mold infestation, asbestos and radon gas.

When looking to buy a home and even looking around your own home notice:

Falling: Outside,look for unsafe conditions that would facilitate a fall.Such as retaining walls or ledges without proper barriers, porches or stairs without proper railings.Inside,are the stairs to the higher floors safe? Is the wood rotted? How about the basement stairs? Are the windows on higher levels equipped with proper locks so kids can’t open them? Are there locks on doors to porches? How accessible is the attic and is the attic floor solid or lined only with insulation?

Drowning: Does the property have a pool? Is it fenced according to code? Is the pool directly accessible from the home without an additional fence or gate? Is there a pond or lake? Are there barriers to entry? Are there wells, tight tanks or drainage tanks that are accessible by removing a simple manhole cover?

Hazardous materials: Is there evidence of the storage of chemicals inside or out? Any containers or smells of gasoline or any flammable materials? Has the soil ever been tested for chemicals? Are the garage rafters, attic and basement completely free of old containers that might contain toxins? Has the basement been tested for radon? Is there lead in the paint? Have the pipes been tested for asbestos insulation?

Carbon monoxide: This is when a good inspector is necessary. It would also be a good time to have portable carbon monoxide detectors to determine if the boilers, burners or furnace vents are leaking. An inspection of the furnace and the chimney are necessary to rule out any leaks.

Mold: If the homes forced hot air has too much moisture in it then the vents can get moldy. If the home has or has ever had a leaky roof or leaky pipes or if the siding wasn’t I installed properly then mold can grow in the basement, attic, walls and ceilings. Mold is a real problem that a good inspector can detect.

Robert Siciliano personal and home security specialist toHome Security Source discussingADT Pulse on Fox News.Disclosures