Emily Conner's blog

Not being a homeowner myself, and like most people, not knowing much about radon, I wasn’t aware that it poses such a huge hazard to our health (well, that is before I started working for U.S. Inspect!) It is something most people don’t think about in their daily lives, but ignoring it could be deadly.

I certainly catch myself daydreaming about this very subject quite often. I get caught up in what the exterior will look like and the details of my decorations and such. I have a wild fantasy that I will someday live in a mountain retreat log home that looks similar to this (let's hope my future husband will agree!)...

During the holidays, one room that will get a ton of "air time" besides the ever popular living room, will be the kitchen. In no other place in the house can you cook great food and socialize with friends and family alike. It it, as they say, the heart of the home and it can bring everyone together no matter how busy we get. So let's talk kitchens!

When I was younger, I didn't really think much about light bulbs and energy savings. Now that I'm getting a bit older and looking down the road at buying a house, I'm a bit more curious about it and I want to make wise decisions. What are the real advantages? How much do these bulbs cost? Are they part of the government tax credit? Well, I wasn't quite sure, so I did some research. 

The White House is probably one of the most recognizable homes in the world, and certainly is high in the ranks as a Unique Property. It's the official home and workplace of the United States President - and I'm always fascinated and intrigued by it. It is a national symbol of the United States that has interesting structural features, and a history like no other. 

Inspecting various clients' homes and seeing different properties each day, our building consultants never know what they'll discover. Rob Amaral, of our Massachusetts team, stumbled upon a unique part of history during one of his recent inspections. 

"What at first looked to me like an underground tank vent during my initial walk-around prior to client's arrival was actually an underground tank...for humans during the Cold War," Rob said.

For years, people have grown gardens for different reasons – botanical (plant) gardens for something appealing to the eye, vegetable gardens to provide a source of food, and memorial gardens to commemorate or remember someone or something. I've grown up gardening and today I'll share some of my experience in the garden and provide some helpful tips for your next gardening expedition.