Take quick action if you suspect unwanted guests (termites) are feasting on your property. The signs like hollow-sounding woods and mud tubes indicate that termites are taking over. However, you must opt for professional pest control services if severe damage is detected on your property inspection. 

Many property sellers ignore the infestation of termites. Ignoring infestation can lead to severe structural damage to your property. After a home inspection, the buyer might close the property deal if the inspector detects termite damage. 

• The termite infestation can be ignored by you but never by a property inspector.

Even the savviest homeowner couldn't compete with a professional pest control service. Get the termite infestation cleared before you have your next property inspection. To save yourself from losing potential customers.  

How to Detect Termite Infestation?
Before diving into the tips to get rid of termites, let's understand how to track down termite infestation in your home. It's difficult to find termite infestation signs on your property. Start by checking the wooden doors and windows corners, home cracks and joints, and fuse boxes. 

Here are some signs that detect that the property is in danger of termite infestation- 

• Hollow wood

If you hear a hollow sound after tapping on the wooden surfaces, there are maximum chances of infestations. You can use a screwdriver to test the wood exteriors. Poke the screwdriver into your wood and check if it gives in. If the screwdriver inserts in the wood easily, it's not a good sign.

• Mud tubes

Termite mud tubes are small tunnels created around the nesting area of the termites. They are small, pencil-sized tunnels made by worker termites with wood and soil. Mud tubes are most commonly nested by subterranean termites. 

• Head banging

Head bandaging is the signal used by soldier termites to indicate danger. You can hear this signal. Get a pest control check if you hear such noises on your property. 

• Frass

 If you sport small granular, oval-type pellets on your property, it's a sign of infestation. They are mostly found in door frames, baseboards, and termite droppings.

Quick tips to get rid of termites-

• Sunlight Exposure- 

Exposing wooden surfaces to sunlight can help you eliminate termite infestation. By exposing the termites to sunlight, you can quickly get rid of them. Termites dislike sunlight. By exposing them to heat, you can save your wood from infestation. The sunlight helps to eliminate moisture and leads to stopping termite infestation.

• Maintaining distance between soil and wood-

Termites can damage the structural integrity of your property. Building your property away from the gardens saves your property from infestation. Experts suggest maintaining an 18-inch distance between the lawn and the home.  

• Spraying vinegar solution-

If you spot any mud tubes on the walls of your property — the first thing to do is make the vinegar solution spray. Vinegar is traditionally used to end termite infestation. Mixing diluted vinegar with lime juice is considered one of the most effective termite killers. Spray your prepared solution all over your property to eliminate infestation. 

How to Prevent Termites- 

• Check for leaks- 

Subterranean termites cannot survive without any moisture. Keeping your property clean and dry can keep termites at bay. 

• Maintenance of gutters and pipes- 

Termites love to nest in warm, dark, and moist places. Regular cleaning of gutters and pipes often helps to prevent termites from nesting. 

• Fill in the cracks- 

Caulking and sealing the cracks can close the unnecessary opening in your foundation. Termites always look for crevices in your property to enter. Always make sure that the cracks are completely sealed. 

• Get regular inspections-  

With the help of regular property inspections, you can save your property from severe structural damage. Termites can be tracked at the early stages – you can get the termites cleared with pest control service. 

The best way to get rid of termites is with certified professional support. The company's highly trained professionals can quicken the termite elimination process more than the DIY methods listed above. 

Connect with us at  GTA Inspectors for top-class inspection service. 

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Over time, we have often discussed getting a property inspected before purchasing a property or before getting it listed for a sale, a pre-handover, or an after-sale inspection. 

So today, let's roll our eyes to another dimension of a property inspection- Periodic Property Inspection. 

Most of the time, inspections occur before a property deal is done. But here, it's a contrary scenario. In such cases, owners not only take over the ownership of the place but also use the property for their residential or commercial needs. A periodic property snagging process is usually a systematic process that occurs at regular intervals. When constructed, properties are built to go long-standing for a sustainable period (generally for 5-7 years). 

Can anything last forever?
It's a sure thing that nothing is permanent!
And keeping construction lasting for a long term involves timely maintenance at regular intervals. 
Sticking today's discussion over a segment of this periodic inspection, let us discuss a few notable things regarding a routine electrical inspection in a property. 

Every electrical installation ages with time and needs to be mended at regular time intervals. This check helps in figuring out whether all the electrical points are functioning correctly or not. An electrical inspection is addressed by a qualified electrical engineer who carefully examines the condition of the boards and wiring system of the property. This particular process would comprise of-

1. Identification of electric shocks.
2. Check for the need for earthing or bonding
3. Highlight faulty installations
4. Repairs of existing faults

But why does a property need a periodic electrical snagging inspection?
Here's why!

1.Continuous Use-
Electrical systems are bound to decline with time. Electricity is something that is a constant need for all. Nobody can survive without lights, fans, ACs, and other electrical appliances. People generally think that everything is working fine as long as there are no visible problems. But realities are different. The wiring seems delicate and might be undergoing some fault in the backend. 

2.Health & Safety Issues-
Inspecting the wiring and switchboards at regular intervals helps minimise health hazards and risks associated with electricity. The conscious reason behind regular scrutiny is to safeguard the health of the residents of the property. 

3.Liability-
Suppose there are any existing electrical faults in the property. In that case, any record of previous inspections that have taken place for the property can serve as evidence of having a check on the electrical system and guard the possibility of future electrical expenses. 

4.Cost Effectiveness-
Recurring residential property inspections enhance your knowledge of the different kinds of electrical odds. Your proficiency in things saves you from extra expenses you may fall for. A periodic review will keep you from the massive explorative work in your upcoming inspection.

Maintaining the electrical safety standards helps you comply with the laws of the land too. Hence, a regular property inspection every few years assures the safety of your place, as this can help analyse potential dangers. 

But why GTA Inspectors? Do we have the necessary qualifications to look at your house's electrical system?
We are happy to share a smile on this note.
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Understanding the gravity of a property's electrical system, GTA Inspectors have something interesting to offer. We believe in delivering what is exactly needed. So if the electrical part is causing trouble, we are glad to address it in the most optimized way we can.

Being a RERA-certified property inspection company in Dubai, we offer periodic inspection services for properties(whether residential or commercial). Moreover, we provide it when the time is right. While doing so, we ensure that you comply with the laws of the land and make alterations as and when required.
We are spirited about our electrical solutions!
Connect now!

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Don't let the bugs take over your yard! 
Boost your property sales by maintaining a healthy yard.

Have you noticed your yard turning off? This might be the side-effect of insects feasting on your yard plantation. Creepy crawls such as bugs, mosquitoes, and mice have a habit of ruining your yard. 

Having a healthy yard draws more property prospects and leads to healthy sales. Unhealthy yards don't affect property inspections, but they notify the inspector to check the property thoroughly and indicate poor property maintenance. You might lose some important leads because of bad yard maintenance.

Here are some quick ways for outdoor bug protection:

Trimming your yard regularly:
Lawn maintenance helps your property look more attractive and clean. Regular trimming is the best way to maintain the yards. If the yards are not appropriately trimmed, there are chances of insect infestation. When the lawn is trimmed, there is space for sunlight, water, and air penetration. 

•  Water your lawn regularly.
• Trim down shrubs, unwanted plants, and bushes
• Eliminate grass clutters
• Clear the trees and shrubs one inch away from the property

Eradicate Standing Water: 
To eliminate unwanted guests from your yards, try to eradicate standing water. Pests, like mosquitoes, are drawn toward the water. Try to avoid water-cluttering areas so that there is minimum moisture build.

• Get leaky pipes, spigots and hoses repaired.
• Clear the rain gutters
• Fill up the areas of the filling water yard.

Clear unwanted trash:
Accumulating debris in the yard can lead to severe damage to your habitat. Garbage is the breeding ground for insects that can cause decomposition. The infestation can lead to damaging plants and the area around the debris. Infestations spread like wildfire and might result in mold infestations in some exterior areas of your property. Mold infestations mostly lead to failure of the property inspection.

•  Depose the trash regularly.
• Make sure to cover the trash bin
• Empty your bin regularly
• Wash the Dustin before adding waste
• Keep trash bins away from the garden and living areas in the yard.

Maintaining Plants Health:
The best way to rescue your plants is by taking the right care! Plants need equal amounts of care as other living things — with good care, you can develop a healthy plantation. Maintaining plants requires lots of dedication — here are some quick ways to maintain plants -

• Repot the plant according to the growth.
• Place the plants in healthy soil.
• Remove debris
• Check for infestation

 
Bug-Free Plantation:
An insect infestation can ultimately damage your indoor and outdoor plants. Bugs can ruin your beloved plants by transmitting and infecting every plant. Here are some quick tips for a bug-free plantation.

• Showering plants with regular water sprays
• Place sticky traps like thrips and whiteflies.
• Dispose of the overly infected plant

Try crop rotation:
This is the most common technique followed by farmers. To maintain soil quality and fertility, crop rotation is the best technique. As you keep changing the plant's location, the pest won't be able to find their way back to the same plant. The insects can be eliminated that have grown underground. Crop rotations help to decrease pests, weeds, and harmful pathogens by regularly disrupting the environment. 

Conclusion:
To maintain the beauty of your yard, try all the steps mentioned above in the blog. Professional home inspectors look for external and internal defects in your property — so having an unhealthy yard won't get you anywhere. To protect your property, you must maintain a clean yard too. Also, there are times when many buyers fall in love with the yard and buy the chosen property — so maintaining a yard can work for your benefit while selling a property. 

Follow these quick steps to prevent yard infestation and follow GTA Inspectors for more property maintenance-related blogs.

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Cross-connection is a plumbing issue that can be spotted during a property snagging. A cross-connection happens when a different water resource or vice versa contaminates the household usage water. A cross connection can occur when a city water pipe breaks on the filter water pipe into the house. The water in your property can get completely contaminated by the wastewater pipeline. Water contamination can lead to multiple problems and health issues.

Slow leaks behind walls- ​

Water pressure is one of the most commonly detected plumbing problems. While carrying out a property checkup, the snagging inspector operates a water pressure detector to determine the pressure of the water. If the water pressure in your property is too high, it can lead to pipeline breakage. Low water pressure can cause problems in appliances like geysers, washing machines and water purifiers. 

Sewer Line Clogs- ​

The drainage pipeline carries waste water out of sinks, toilets, tubs and throughout our property. All of these lines connect to the main sewer or septic system. Sometimes it takes time to detect the sewer line clogs until it causes severe damage to your property. You must understand that sewer lines need equal maintenance and attention as the other domains of your property. The drainage lines are mostly buried deep under the ground, away from home. If there are sewer clogging issues, you need to connect with a professional plumbing service to get it repaired. 

To avoid plumbing problems, we have quick tips for you -

• Always get small leaks and showers fixed as soon as possible.
  
•  To keep sewer lines clean, Add baking soda and vinegar to your sinks and drain with boiling water.
  
• Avoid putting small trash in flush as it might get stuck
  
• Always self-check water pressure, as high pressures can weaken your pipeline internally.
  
• Completely drain out the water heater after use.
  
• Pro Tip: A home inspection before buying a property can save you from spending money on repairs.
  

If you are struggling with any of the above-mentioned plumbing problems in your cherished home, connect with a professional plumbing inspection service for the top-notch assistance. 

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Termites are commonly encountered wood-destroying insects during a professional property inspection. Termite infestation is mostly found in warm environments that can be found in some localized regions. They are pretty social and believe in multiplying and colonizing. Every colony has reproductive termites, soldiers and workers. The workers are the ones causing the wood-destroying infestation. Most of the property owners are aware of termite infestations. But you should always hire a professional to track down the severity of the termite infestation.  

How to prevent common wood-destroying insects infestation: 
The best way to protect your property from infestation is by addressing leaks and the reasons for excess moisture. Ensuring that the water drainage system of your dwelling has communed to drains and downspouts adequately can help you avoid infestation. Another method homeowners follow is maintaining their yards. 

Conclusion:
These were all the commonly found insects causing structural damage to the property. Always have a professional to get rid of pest infestations. Getting regular inspections done can save your property from significant damage. With GTA inspectors, you can get experienced and certified inspection services to protect your property from wood-destroying insect infestation. 

Scheduling a professional pest inspection can save you a lot of money by finding the infestation at the early stages. Integral structural issues can cause expensive repairs. ​

Hovering over the (IAQ) Indoor Air Quality during a property inspection refers to examining the air quality inside the property and its premises. A check on the IAQ is crucial as it helps identify the presence of harmful environmental defects such as: mould, bacteria, etc and alerts you over serious health hazards like- headaches, dizziness, nausea, and many more! If you want to know more Indoor Air Quality and the concerns associated with it, check out our blog on the Impact of Indoor Air Quality!