​Renting a home or apartment can be a great option for many people, providing flexibility and affordability compared to buying a home. However, even if you don't own the property, it's important to protect yourself and your belongings with rental insurance. In this article, we'll explore the reasons why rental insurance is a wise investment for anyone renting a home or apartment.

What is rental insurance? Rental insurance is a type of insurance policy that covers your personal property and liability while you are renting a home or apartment. It typically includes coverage for damage or loss due to theft, fire, water damage, natural disasters, and other events. Rental insurance policies can also provide liability coverage in case someone is injured on the property or if you accidentally cause damage to someone else's property.

Many renters don’t bother with rental insurance because they assume that their landlord's insurance policy will cover any damages or losses, but this is often not the case. It's important to have your own rental insurance policy to protect yourself, your belongings, and your liability in case of an accident.

It’s important to remember that even if you don't own the property, you still have valuable belongings that need to be protected. Without rental insurance, you would have to replace everything out of pocket, which can be costly and time-consuming. Rental insurance provides peace of mind knowing that your belongings are protected, in case of an unexpected event.

What about the cost? The cost of rental insurance can vary depending on various factors. On average, however, rental insurance is affordable and can provide comprehensive coverage for a relatively low premium. It's a small investment compared to the potential financial loss you could face without insurance.

Contact:
Mike McFadden, CMI®
Hero Inspection Services
(407) 630-4973
team@herohomeinspections.com
www.herohomeinspections.com
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Michael Whittaker Earns Certified Master Inspector® Designation.
Orlando, Florida. (April 25, 2023)– Hero Inspection Services is pleased to announce that Michael Whittaker is now credentialed as a Certified Master Inspector (CMI)®, which is the home inspection industry’s top professional designation.
The Master Inspector Certification Board has awarded the Certified Master Inspector (CMI)® designation to Mr. Whittaker for demonstrating the highest level of competency by completing 1,000 fee-paid inspections and/or hours of inspection-related Continuing Education, for having been in the inspection business for at least three years, for abiding by the industry’s toughest Code of Ethics, and for agreeing to periodic background checks.
Mr. Whittaker wishes to thank his clients and colleagues for their continued support of Hero Inspection Services.
Hero Inspection Services has been serving the Orlando area for the past nine years, specializing in both new-construction inspections, inspections of existing homes, with an emphasis on new home buyers and indoor air quality.

Dust mites are microscopic creatures that thrive in warm, humid environments, such as mattresses, pillows, carpets, and upholstery. They measure only 0.2-0.3 millimeters in length and cannot be seen with the naked eye. Dust mites feed on dead skin cells shed by humans and pets, which can accumulate in bedding, upholstery, and carpet fibers.

Although dust mites themselves are harmless, their feces and body parts can trigger allergies and asthma in sensitive individuals. So, what can you do to control their population in your home?

Wash your sheets, pillowcases, and blankets in hot water (at least 130 degrees Fahrenheit) once a week to kill dust mites and remove their allergens. If you do not want to wash your bedding in hot water, placing them in the dryer on high will also do the trick. It will also help to encase your mattresses, box springs, and pillows in allergy-proof covers made of tightly woven fabric that can trap dust mites and their feces.

Use a vacuum cleaner with a HEPA filter to clean your carpets, rugs, upholstery, and drapes weekly. Dust surfaces with a damp cloth or a microfiber cloth that can capture dust and mites instead of spreading them in the air. Avoid using feather dusters or dry cloths, which can disperse dust and mites.

Maintain low humidity in your home by using a dehumidifier or an air conditioner. Dust mites thrive in moist environments, so reducing the humidity can discourage their growth. Fix any leaks or water damage promptly to prevent mold growth, which can also trigger allergies.

Minimize clutter in your home, especially in the bedroom, where dust mites can accumulate on piles of clothes, books, and toys. Store items in plastic containers or bins that can be easily cleaned or wiped down.
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Although you cannot completely eliminate a dust mite population from your home, the above suggestions will help to drastically reduce their numbers.

​Excessive noise in our homes can be a significant source of discomfort, frequently leading to a lack of sleep, decreased productivity, and increased stress levels. The problem is that it is not always within our power to control the noise, especially if it's coming from outside. So, what is the solution? There are several noise mitigation techniques that you can try to reduce sound levels and improve your overall living conditions. Here are a few of them:

Seal up gaps and cracks in doors and windows. Gaps and cracks can allow sound to travel easily into your home. Sealing these gaps and cracks can help reduce noise levels and improve your overall living conditions. You can use caulking, weatherstripping, or foam sealant to seal gaps and cracks around windows, doors, and baseboards.

Try to incorporate noise-absorbing materials in your home. Sound will reverberate off hard surfaces like walls and wooden floors, so adding soft materials that absorb sound better can make a significant difference. Consider putting carpet on the floors and adding more soft furniture items. If the noise problem is especially bad, you could also fit soundproof panels in a room to reduce sound transmission.

Do you have noisy appliances? Household appliances such as washing machines, air conditioners, and refrigerators can produce excessive noise at times. A simple solution is to replace them with quieter models. If this is out of the question, you could also try using vibration insulators to reduce the noise caused by vibrating appliances.

As you can see from these few suggestions, it is possible to reduce noise levels without resorting to more extreme measures.

Will you need to schedule a home inspection in the coming year? Perhaps it has been a long time since your home was inspected, or maybe you are planning to buy a house for the first time. Either way, you may be wondering what kinds of things are inspected during a home inspection. Here are some of them: 

Let’s begin with the exterior of the house. We will look at the roof to ensure it is in good condition. We will also inspect any decking attached to the home. The buildings’ structure and systems are an area we spend extra time examining, as well as ensuring the property has sufficient grade. Something else we check is the windows and doors to see if they pose a home security risk. 

Another area we pay extra attention to is the home's HVAC and plumbing systems. For example, we check that each faucet in the home is working properly, etc. The home's electrical and wiring system is another very important area to inspect as fire safety is of the utmost importance and faulty electrics are a huge cause of house fires.
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This very brief list does not include everything on our home inspections, but it does give you an idea of what is included. If you would like to learn more, please don’t hesitate to contact us, and we will be happy to provide you with additional details.

During November and December, we often spend more time at home with extended family and friends. It is also a time when our homes are at increased risk of fire. So, it may be wise to check that you have a sufficient number of smoke detectors in your home. 

How many smoke detectors should there be in each house? It is generally advised that you fit a smoke detector on every livable floor of the home – this should also include the garage and basement if you have one. For extra safety, it is a good idea to install a smoke detector in every occupied bedroom. 

Every smoke detector must be tested regularly. A smoke detector is useless if it is not working properly or needs new batteries, so go through the home and test each one to make sure they are in good working order. You may be spending more time cooking this time of year, and this often sets off our smoke alarms. Although it's very tempting to disconnect them, you should avoid doing this, as it's far too easy to forget to reconnect them again.
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Finally, do you have a plan of action in case a fire breaks out in the home? If not, this is a good time to put a plan together. It is important to know what steps you must take to protect yourself and your household.

Loss of power in the home can cause chaos and interrupt the smooth running of the household. A good solution when the power goes out is to use a portable generator. But, while this is a good option in an emergency, there are some things you should know about operating one safely. Here are a few safety suggestions:

As mentioned, a portable generator is good in an emergency but do not assume you can keep everything in the house running. It should be used to run appliances that are essential to the basic running of the home. You should also be aware that portable generators are only intended for corded appliances and not those that are hard-wired. 

Portable generators also produce hazardous fumes when running - this means that you should never have one running inside the house, where these fumes can build up and become lethal. The generator will also become very hot, so you should be extra careful when filling it with gasoline. Keep children well away from the generator. 
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A portable generator is a great backup in the event of a power outage. Just make sure you use it the way it is intended and always keep health and safety in mind when running one.