I think it’s fair to say most people would prefer the aesthetics of ceramic tile on their shower surround verses fiberglass or plastic. Ceramic tile comes in many different colors, shapes, and textures that will provide you with the look and feel that you desire, but with that comes extra maintenance as compared to a standard fiberglass surround. I like to think of the standard white fiberglass shower surrounds as practical, easy to install, very durable, and require virtually no maintenance other than cleaning. Ceramic tile.

by Pete Busch If you’ve lived in your house for a period of time you know by now that home maintenance is a big part of ownership. Ask yourself, are you the type of person that waits until there is a problem and then deals with it? Or are you the type of person that deals with small issues before they become major problems? Today I’m writing an article to try to persuade you to become the latter of the two, at least with just one.

One of the most discouraging defects I find during a typical Minnesota home inspection is windows that have a rotted window sill or sash. Unfortunately the condition of the windows is often overlooked and before you know it they’re rotted to the point of no return leading to costly repairs that could have been avoided. I guess that’s one way to keep the economy going but if you’re like me I would rather spend my money on something else, I find no excitement in buying.

Have you noticed how Minnesotan’s love to complain about cold winter temperatures?  But we also love to complain about the heat -- and that time is coming soon. Air conditioning season will be upon us in about a month, are you prepared, or should I say is your central air conditioner prepared? As a Minnesota residential home inspector, based on what I find at the majority of homes I inspect I would have to say the answer is no. This is a picture.