Garza Home Inspection, LLC

10/08/2026

Michigan is entering what many call stink bug season, as the insects search for somewhere warm to stay for the winter, which could mean inside homes.

09/09/2026

September in Michigan brings cool mornings, beautiful leaves, and a comfortable window to prep your home before winter hits! 🍂🏠

Here are 5 quick maintenance tasks you can easily tackle while the weather is still cooperative:

1. Assess Downspouts: Check that downspouts drain at least 4–6+ feet away from your foundation.

2. Inspect & Repair Exterior Caulking: Check around windows, doors, and exterior trim. Sealing gaps now prevents chilly drafts and keeps moisture out.

3. Disconnect Garden Hoses: Leaving hoses attached during a freeze can trap water in the faucet and burst pipes inside the wall. Drain them and store them away.

4. Service Your Furnace Early: Don't wait for the first freeze to find out your heat isn't working. Swap out air filters and schedule a professional tune-up now.

5. Check Attic Ventilation & Roof Clearance: Trim back overhanging tree branches away from the roof to prevent moisture buildup and algae growth while also cleaning roof of debris.

Taking care of these small projects this month saves big headaches (and expensive repairs) when the snow arrives!

Enjoy these last few weeks of summer! ☀️

07/22/2026

Buying a home? Don't confuse an Appraisal with an Inspection! 🤔🏠 📝

Here’s the quick breakdown:

💰 Appraisal: Protects the lender by confirming the home's market value.
🛠️ Home Inspection: Protects YOU by uncovering potential safety issues, major system conditions, and (possible) upcoming repairs.

Before you finalize your purchase, make sure you know exactly what you’re moving into!

📲 Have questions or ready to schedule your
inspection? Send a text or call!

07/06/2026

The summer heat doesn't have to break the bank. Here’s a guide to temperature settings. 👇

As scorching summer heat and high humidity set in, keeping your living space comfortable without driving utility bills sky-high becomes a major challenge. The U.S. Department of Energy recommends a daytime baseline of 78°F (26°C) when you are at home.

For many, this temperature initially feels too warm. Experts suggest starting your thermostat at 72°F and gradually raising it by one degree at a time to allow your body to naturally adjust to the change.

Since every single degree you set your air conditioner above 72°F can slash your cooling costs by up to 3%, making these incremental adjustments quickly adds up to significant savings.

Managing your home's climate while you are asleep or away offers even greater opportunities to save.

Setting the thermostat around 82°F at night promotes a cooler environment conducive to deep sleep. For long periods away, like work or travel, raising the thermostat to 85°F protects your belongings by keeping indoor humidity below 60% without wasting electricity. By adopting these smart setting adjustments, you can easily maintain a healthier, mold-free home environment while keeping your monthly energy expenses firmly under control.

source: American Standard. (2025). The Best Thermostat Temperature for Summer.

06/29/2026

Yes something is seriously wrong here.

The required hourly wage to afford a home jumped from $32.70 in 2020 to $61.85 in 2026.

The average American worker makes about $34 an hour.

You do the math.

Here's the full timeline of what happened to housing affordability in America.

In 1970, a $3.60 hourly wage was enough to afford a median-priced home. That was achievable.

The minimum wage at the time was $1.60. Most working adults could realistically get there.

By 1990 the required wage had risen to $11.25. Still tough but manageable for two-income households.

By 2020 it was $32.70. Stretched but possible for households with decent jobs and a down payment saved.

Then something broke.

From 2020 to 2026, the required hourly wage to afford a median-priced home nearly doubled. Not over decades. In six years.

The income needed to buy a typical home rose over 80% in that window according to consumer affordability research, driven by home prices surging, mortgage rates doubling from historic lows, and insurance premiums exploding on top of both.

The average American worker earns about $34 an hour today.

The bar to buy a home is $61.85.

That's a $27.85 gap between what most people earn and what the housing market requires. For a full-time worker that gap represents roughly $57,000 in missing annual income.

This is why the average first-time homebuyer is now 40 years old.

This is why two thirds of non-homeowners say they believe they will never be able to afford a home.

This is why home sales just hit their lowest level since 1995.

It's not a motivation problem. It's not a savings discipline problem. It's not avocado toast. It's a market that moved faster than wages in one of the most compressed timespans in modern American history.

The people sitting on the sidelines aren't waiting because they don't want to own a home.

They're waiting because the math stopped working and nobody fixed it.

06/15/2026

5 tips to maintain your home’s drinking water quality

Michigan's Women, Infants & Children program, providing supplemental nutrition, breastfeeding information, and other resources for healthy mothers & babies.

05/21/2026

Join a $28.5M Class Action and potentially get Pro rata cash payment (varies). Keller Williams and RE/MAX are paying $28.5M after being accused of inflating homebuyer commissions. If you bought a home listed on an MLS, you may be owed cash.

04/26/2026

This space is absolutely bussin' no cap. 👌

The blue flame is what you want. It means the gas is getting enough oxygen, so it burns clean and properly. This is called complete combustion. It produces heat, carbon dioxide, and water v***r. It burns hotter, is safer, and cooks food better.

The yellow or orange flame is a warning sign. It means the gas is not burning properly, usually because the burner is dirty or the airflow is blocked. This is called incomplete combustion. It can produce carbon monoxide, which is very dangerous. It also wastes energy and gives weaker heat.

So, a steady blue flame is good, while a yellow or orange flame means something needs to be fixed.