He advised homeowners to check, anyway, for lead pipes in their houses.

But the discounter will have access to house listings to advise homeowners how much to ask for a house.

Both county health departments can investigate rat complaints, advise homeowners on ways to combat the problem and possibly recommend a local exterminator, but their resources are limited.

Mr. Mueller advised homeowners to hold off "until there has been at least a year of trading and you can see there's liquidity."

Mr. Dolan said a consulting concern would be hired to advise homeowners on possible remedies and to make sure that the work is completed.

These individuals or companies can inspect property damage, but cannot advise homeowners on questions of the law.

A lot of my work came from referrals from real estate agents who were advising homeowners how to improve their homes for resale.

He advised homeowners to fertilize their sycamores now, because "the trees are going back to their stored resources and trying to leaf out again."

Electric demand was so high that the power company advised homeowners to buy generators to cope with frequent brownouts.

He also advised homeowners never to succumb to luring contractors with more than half of the money up front.