Some houses seem to groan when the wind hits them just right, others might creak whenever the mood is right. These are just “house noises” that you’re slowly growing accustomed to…right? 

Many odd occurrences in the home can be explained away with a little bit of investigation. Reader beware: only proceed if you want to know the truth about the noise that's coming from your attic. 

The Truth About Cold Spots
It’s a common sight in movies whenever ghosts are near. A shiver is sent down your spine and a chill in the air suddenly lets you see your breath. Many paranormal enthusiasts believe that these instances are not just Hollywood run amuck, but real evidence of spirits drawing energy from their former homes. However, poor insulation, inadequate sealing around doors and windows, and inconsistent filter cleaning can all cause homes to run colder than expected.

When You Smell Something…Fishy
The spirits that inhabit your home once had their own lives. They cooked their favorite foods, had their own pets, and they may have had their unique habits such as smoking a cigar or wearing a particular kind of perfume. When moving into a new home, it may be unnerving to discover strange, lingering odors that may be attributed to its former owners. Carpet, paint, and tile floors are just a few things in homes that can hold onto unwanted scents, such as cigarette smoke, long after previous owners have moved out. Replacing your carpet, picking a fresh coat of paint, and then tackling any inherited appliances should be a top concern for a clean start.

Creaks, Groans, and Noises in the Night
When sharing space with ghosts, homeowners would probably prefer their ghost to be more of a Casper the Friendly Ghost-type, rather than a Beetlejuice-Beetlejuice-variety. That's why those first few nights in a new home can be particularly unnerving if unexpected noises start coming from the walls, the basement, or the attic. Outside from ghouls or goblins, there are many other things that can cause a home to make distracting noises. Materials in homes naturally bloat and compress throughout the year as the weather changes, which can all cause harmless creaking and grumbling. Hissing or humming electrical outlets or piping could mean any number of problems, and suspected gas leaks should be addressed as soon as possible.

Our inspectors are always finding interesting things in the field. Can you spot what’s wrong with this picture?

You probably noticed that you can see the sky through the rust holes in these gutters. Healthy gutters are crucial to a healthy home since they can affect the roof, foundation and everything in between, leading to water intrusion problems for a basement, crawl space, or even slab-on-grade construction. Getting new gutters should be at the top of this homeowner’s to-do list! 

The air is crisp and the trees are changing colors. That must mean fall is here! Even if your yard isn’t fully blanketed in crunchy leaves just yet, you can still start on these essential fall lawn care tasks. 

1. Rake the leaves.
It turns out that this quintessential fall chore really is the most important one. If you love the look of a blanket of fall leaves, you’ll want to listen up. Not only do leaves block sunlight, they also trap moisture, leading to a soggy, decaying mess come spring. Remember, to avoid a marathon, you can always rake leaves as you see them, dividing work into more manageable 10- or 15-minute tasks.

2. Don’t winterize the sprinkler just yet.
It’s a myth that cooler weather means your lawn needs less water—it might even need more! Use a rain gauge to make sure your grass is getting at least an inch of water a week, and plan to have your sprinklers running until right around Halloween.

3. Keep mowing.
We’re all eager to put away our mowers for the year after a long summer of cutting grass. But it’s still perfectly appropriate, not to mention necessary, to mow your lawn well into fall. Grass will keep growing until the first hard frost, so you’ll likely need to keep trimming it down to the ideal three-inch height. 

4. Treat your lawn with fertilizers.
Prepare to have the greenest lawn on the block come April. There are a myriad of fertilizers available for every need, including winter. Investing in a slow-release granular 24-0-10 variety and spreading it in the late fall can help protect grass roots from freezing, allowing your entire lawn to bounce back quickly in spring. 

5. Plant bulbs and spread seed.
Mid to late November is a great time to plant spring bulbs before the ground freezes. Follow the instructions for the bulbs you’ve chosen and be ready to sprout tulips, daffodils and more in spring, with all the hard work already done for you. Late fall is also a great time to spread seed, thickening up your grass and keeping it strong and healthy against the elements.

6. Stick to a schedule.
It’s a fact: lawn work takes time, and more than that, it takes commitment. You’ll want to stick to a fairly strict schedule to achieve the best results. For more information regarding the best time to perform all the steps above, contact your local lawn care company for a consultation.