Helpful Tips

Image for Spray foam insulation could impact your termite protection

Spray foam insulation could impact your termite protection

Author: Bill Ballard
Originally published October 2018 With the increased desire to cut down on energy costs and make homes more energy efficient, many homeowners are increasingly looking toward...
Image for Ā Love Bugs: What's to love?

Ā Love Bugs: What's to love?

Author: Bill Ballard
Originally published February 2018 Love is in the air, but there is not much to love about love bugs. Often called kissing bugs, they do not sting or bite, but can be quite...
Image for Carpenter bees ... a real buzzkill

Carpenter bees ... a real buzzkill

Author: Mandy Garnto
Originally published April 2019. Edited April 2022. Spring is officially here! After suffering from cabin fever all winter, you're ready to soak up some vitamin D and take...
Image for The connection between roaches and asthma

The connection between roaches and asthma

Author: Mandy Garnto
Originally published May 2018 As parents, we spend most of our time protecting our children. We teach them to look both ways before crossing the street. We make sure they're...
Image for Decks Top List of Most Overlooked Home Maintenance Item

Decks Top List of Most Overlooked Home Maintenance Item

Article originally written in September 2021. Someone recently asked me for my thoughts on the top maintenance items most often overlooked by homeowners. Rather than repeat...
Image for Spring Fever Brings Birds, Butterflies and...Bats?

Spring Fever Brings Birds, Butterflies and...Bats?

Author: Mandy Garnto
It's common knowledge that springtime usually means new babies are being born throughout the animal kingdom. Little chicks, foals, baby cows—those are all cute and...
Image for 30 Years of Home Inspection Experience Now Part of Cingo Family

30 Years of Home Inspection Experience Now Part of Cingo Family

Interview conducted in February 2022In 2019, two of Atlanta's largest multi-inspector firms, the Cornerstone Group and Building Knowledge LLC, merged under the umbrella of...
Image for How to measure household water pressure

How to measure household water pressure

Everyone talks about wanting high water pressure, but the truth is… you really don't.Household water pressure above 80 psi can damage some plumbing lines and void warranties...
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5 Expert Holiday Pest Control Tips

Author: Bill Ballard
Originally published December 2017 Let's face it, holidays can be stressful. And while we can't help you with the cooking and wrapping, we can help you keep your home...
Image for Cingo Prevent+ Plan Visit Frequency

Cingo Prevent+ Plan Visit Frequency

Author: Mandy Garnto
While it's hard to battle mother nature on her home turf, Cingo can help with some of the pests outside your home.The Cingo Prevent+ plan is designed to fortify your home...
Image for Halloween Safety

Halloween Safety

Author: Mandy Garnto
Originally published October 30th, 2018. Updated October 27th, 2021. Halloween is a thrilling time of year for your children. Getting to dress up as a tiny version of their...
Image for Have no fear (of bugs) this Halloween

Have no fear (of bugs) this Halloween

Author: Bill Ballard
Originally Published October 18, 2017 Arachnaphobia? Entomophobia? Apiphobia? What are you afraid of this Halloween? If crawling critters give you the heeby geebies, you are...
Image for Potentially Dire Consequences of Skipping A Home Inspection

Potentially Dire Consequences of Skipping A Home Inspection

I was recently hired to conduct an inspection at a home that was purchased without an inspection or an appraisal. My clients had finally caved to their agent's urging. Upon...
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Understanding a Home Inspection Report

Author: Joy Stanton-Hirst
We understand that the homebuying process can be overwhelming and the tasks feel never-ending. Home inspections can often be more troublesome than helpful, especially when...
Image for Home safety concerns: electrical wiring

Home safety concerns: electrical wiring

Author: Mandy Garnto
There are many reasons why potential buyers need to have a home inspection, but at the top of that list should be safety concerns. A thorough home inspection can identify...
Image for Sleep tight, don't let the bed bugs bite

Sleep tight, don't let the bed bugs bite

Author: Mandy Garnto
Originally published April 2018. Updated July 7, 2021. Warmer weather has finally arrived. Weekend beach trips have begun and summer vacations are being planned. While you...
Image for Keep pests out of your picnic with 10 expert pest control tips

Keep pests out of your picnic with 10 expert pest control tips

Author: Bill Ballard
This article was originally published on Jun 19, 2017. Updated as of June 23, 2021. Ants in your applesauce and bees on your burgers can take the fun out of outdoor dining....
Image for Summer camp and bed bugs: What moms should know

Summer camp and bed bugs: What moms should know

Author: Bill Strickland
Originally published July 2017 Summer is now in full swing, and you're preparing to send off your little campers to the great outdoors. Whether it's one week full of...
Image for Insects that inspire: the magic of fireflies

Insects that inspire: the magic of fireflies

Author: Kate Allgood
This article was originally published in July 2018. There is something magical about fireflies. Do you remember chasing and catching them in your childhood? Did you collect...
Image for Hurdles that slow down closing

Hurdles that slow down closing

Author: Mandy Garnto
There's not much worse than receiving the news that your clients' closing date has to be postponed. However, the most common hurdles on the way to closing can be cleared...
Image for Fleas, ticks, and health risks

Fleas, ticks, and health risks

Author: Bill Ballard
This article was originally published on July 27, 2018. Updated as of May 12, 2021. Endless sunny days and warm weather make summertime a favorite season to play outside...
Image for Insect-Proof Your Home

Insect-Proof Your Home

Author: Joy Stanton-Hirst
Seeing a pest in your home is enough to make anyone uneasy, especially when it can indicate you have bigger problems on your hands. Aside from being a nuisance, insects can...
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Airborne Mold Testing

Airborne Mold Testing: Who should test and why. As an inspector, I often get asked by my clients if they should test for mold. Since this is a discussion I frequently...
Image for 3 Tools for Homeowners to Stay Ahead

3 Tools for Homeowners to Stay Ahead

Author: Joy Stanton-Hirst
Your family and home deserve the utmost protection, but it can be a daunting task for those missing the proper tools. It takes a lot to juggle all the homeowner...
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April Showers Bring May Mosquitos

Author: Joy Stanton-Hirst
There's no doubt that springtime is beautiful. Flowers begin to bloom, birds start singing earlier and earlier, and summer is just around the corner. But when April showers...
Image for How do you protect your children in an increasingly online world?

How do you protect your children in an increasingly online world?

Author: Ben Halpert
In the Digital Age, we are spending more of our day online and less time IRL (in real life). From shopping and dating to learning and teaching, our interactions online are...
Image for World's most beloved mouse turns 90

World's most beloved mouse turns 90

Author: Mandy Garnto
Hot Dog, Mickey Mouse, it's your birthday! Since Mickey's debut in Steamboat Willie in 1928, he has fascinated children and adults alike, bringing out the inner child in us...
Image for Back to School Safety

Back to School Safety

Author: Mandy Garnto
Originally published July 2018. Updated July 2022. It's that time of year again! Back to school means time for new school supplies, a new school year wardrobe and first day...
Image for Mosquitoes and blood-borne illnesses

Mosquitoes and blood-borne illnesses

Author: Bill Ballard
Summer is in full swing, and unfortunately that means so are the mosquitoes. Mosquito bites are a nuisance, but there are many additional reasons to protect your family, your...
Image for The ants go marching

The ants go marching

Author: Mandy Garnto
One by one, four by four ... ah, geez, the Ant Army is on the move again. Ants are one of the most common pests we southerners encounter. It seems that no matter what the...
Image for Your best options to manage mosquitoes

Your best options to manage mosquitoes

Author: Bill Strickland
Mosquitoes are always looking for a blood meal. (Gross, we know.) You basically have two options: keep them from biting you or eliminate them from your yard. And with the...
Image for It's Bat Appreciation Day

It's Bat Appreciation Day

Author: Bill Ballard
No, no, not the bats you find at the ballpark. Today we appreciate the ones that fly, and eat mosquitoes. "Appreciate" may seem like an odd word choice. The only reason I can...
Image for Spring is right on time, and so are the termites

Spring is right on time, and so are the termites

Author: Mandy Garnto
Warmer weather has arrived in Atlanta and across the southeast. The grass is turning green. The birds are chirping. Spring cleaning and household projects are underway. Spring...
Image for What homeowners should know about termite swarms

What homeowners should know about termite swarms

Author: Bill Ballard
Ahhh, the signs of spring—flowers blooming, new growth, kids playing outside and termites swarming. Wait, what? Yes, that's right, termites. While these insects do damage...
Image for Can green pest control be effective?

Can green pest control be effective?

Author: Mandy Garnto
Our society is becoming increasingly aware of the products and chemicals that we use and breathe in on a daily basis. We shop in the organic section at the grocery store,...
Image for It's Groundhog Day!

It's Groundhog Day!

That's right woodchuck chuckers, it's… GROUNDHOG DAY! This morning, both Punxsutawney Phil and our local groundhog, General Beauregard Lee, saw their shadows. The Yellow...
Image for You know pantry pests are gross, but what are the health risks?

You know pantry pests are gross, but what are the health risks?

Author: Mandy Garnto
It's Saturday morning. The kids are up— much earlier than you would like. You get the coffee started and stumble over to the pantry to grab a box of cereal. As you open...
Image for Squirrels in a Nutshell

Squirrels in a Nutshell

Author: Mandy Garnto
There are so many things to love about squirrels! They're adorable, friendly and highly intelligent. They help the environment by planting trees with their forgotten nuts, and...
Image for Keep the mouse out of your house

Keep the mouse out of your house

Author: Bill Ballard
Remember the mouse mazes from science fair projects? Mice are curious and persistent, a combination that leads them to reward. If you don't want your home to be their prize,...
Image for Thanks for the Mosquitoes, Irma

Thanks for the Mosquitoes, Irma

Hurricane Irma may be gone, but she certainly left a lasting bite. If you were wondering why you've been seeing a lot more mosquitoes in the past few weeks, you can blame...
Image for Why you shouldn't crush Kudzu Bugs

Why you shouldn't crush Kudzu Bugs

Author: Bill Ballard
It may look like a beetle, but that Kudzu bug is more closely related to the stink bug. You don't want these uninvited guests hanging around during the holidays. Kudzu bugs are...
Image for Mosquitoes or mosquitos, they both suck.

Mosquitoes or mosquitos, they both suck.

Author: Bill Ballard
Summer should be the time for barbecues and lounging by the pool. Unfortunately, the hot, muggy weather in Augusta and eastern Georgia is the perfect breeding ground for...
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DEET gets it done

Author: Mandy Garnto
Today is insect repellent awareness day. It seems like everything has a day now! And while many of the "celebrations" feel like an excuse (Ice Cream for Breakfast Day, comes to...
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"Killed the fleas. Walked the dog."

Author: Bill Ballard
This post originally appeared in The 'Good News, a blog by Allgood Services, Inc. dba Allgood Pest Solutions. In February 2017, the company changed its name to Cingo.True...
Image for What's the connection between pets and pest control in Charleston?

What's the connection between pets and pest control in Charleston?

This post originally appeared in The 'Good News, a blog by Allgood Services, Inc. dba Allgood Pest Solutions. In February 2017, the company changed its name to Cingo. ...