Home Savvy: Popular Modifications, Environmental Management, and More

General Information

• Approved Credit Hours: 30 hours
• State: Tennessee
• Course Availability: 365 days from enrollment

Course Description

Residential real estate requires more than showing a property. Buyers and sellers often raise questions about exterior conditions, environmental concerns, pests, weather risks, and practical upgrades that affect safety, function, and marketability. A broad working knowledge of these topics supports clearer communication, stronger risk awareness, and appropriate referrals during a transaction.

Homeownership also involves ongoing maintenance and problem-solving. Issues such as drainage performance, indoor air hazards, infestations, storm damage, and accessibility needs can influence property value, insurability, disclosures, and buyer expectations. Recognizing common warning signs and understanding general response considerations supports responsible real estate practice.

Home Savvy: Popular Modifications, Environmental Management, and More examines a wide range of residential topics organized into five primary areas: Outdoor Elements, Home Health, Pests, Hazardous Weather and Natural Disasters, and Home Modifications. Within these areas, the course reviews common features and conditions that affect property performance, along with practical considerations that arise when homeowners maintain, improve, or respond to problems in and around the home.

A broad understanding of home conditions and common improvement concerns supports more accurate property discussions, better issue spotting, and stronger professional judgment across a wide range of residential transactions.

Course Topics

This course covers the following topics:

• Unit 1: Residential Landscape Design
  Planning and maintaining landscapes to support usability, curb appeal, and long-term performance.

• Unit 2: Gardening
  Garden features and how they can influence use, enjoyment, and property appeal.

• Unit 3: Trees
  Tree selection, planting, maintenance, and safe removal considerations.

• Unit 4: Grass
  Common grass types, lawn care basics, and the role of lawns in residential settings.

• Unit 5: Drainage Systems
  Drainage functions, benefits, and basic installation and maintenance considerations.

• Unit 6: Sprinklers and Irrigation Systems
  Irrigation system uses, value, and maintenance concerns.

• Unit 7: Pavements and Driveways
  Common materials, planning considerations, and maintenance concerns.

• Unit 8: Fences
  Fence purposes, benefits, and typical installation and maintenance considerations.

• Unit 9: Pools and Hot Tubs
  Planning, upkeep, and common issues associated with water amenities.

• Unit 10: Composting
  Composting basics, setup, and common challenges.

• Unit 11: Radon
  Risk awareness, testing considerations, and response options.

• Unit 12: Asbestos
  Where asbestos may be found and general prevention and remediation considerations.

• Unit 13: Lead and Lead-Based Paint
  Health impacts, testing considerations, and response options.

• Unit 14: Carbon Monoxide
  Common sources, risk factors, and prevention considerations.

• Unit 15: Mold
  Signs of mold, contributing conditions, and prevention and remediation considerations.

• Unit 16: Cockroaches
  Common indicators, entry points, and basic control considerations.

• Unit 17: Carpenter Ants
  Infestation risks, warning signs, and prevention considerations.

• Unit 18: Rodents
  Common rodents, health and property risks, and prevention considerations.

• Unit 19: Termites
  Termite biology, property risks, and signs of infestation.

• Unit 20: Snakes and Spiders
  Identification, prevention, and response considerations.

• Unit 21: Fire Ants
  Behavior, impacts, and prevention considerations.

• Unit 22: Flooding
  Flood risks, mitigation approaches, and insurance basics.

• Unit 23: Hail
  Common damage patterns, protection measures, and post-storm response.

• Unit 24: Freezes
  Freeze-related damage risks, protection measures, and post-event response.

• Unit 25: Tornadoes
  Preparation, common damage concerns, and recovery considerations.

• Unit 26: Earthquakes
  Risk basics, preparation measures, and rebuilding considerations.

• Unit 27: Fires
  Fire risk awareness and post-fire property considerations.

• Unit 28: Accessibility Modifications
  Inclusive design concepts, common barriers, and modification considerations.

• Unit 29: Childproofing the Home
  Common child safety measures and maintenance considerations.

• Unit 30: Increasing Storage Space
  Storage planning and visible solutions that affect usability and appeal.

• Unit 31: Cell Phone Reception
  Basic signal concepts and common indicators of weak reception.

• Unit 32: Low Ceilings
  How ceiling height affects function, comfort, and perception.

• Unit 33: Noise Pollution
  Common sources, regulation considerations, and mitigation options.

• Unit 34: Pet Friendly Setups
  Pet-related features and common maintenance considerations.

• Unit 35: Wi-Fi
  Home connectivity basics and factors that affect coverage and performance.

Learning Objectives

Upon completion of the course, the student will be able to:

• Evaluate outdoor features, landscaping, and drainage systems for residential property performance

• Identify environmental health hazards and mitigation strategies for common indoor pollutants

• Recognize signs of pest infestations and determine appropriate prevention and control measures

• Analyze natural disaster risks and implement preparedness strategies to enhance home resilience

• Assess home modifications and connectivity solutions to improve accessibility and livability

Instructor & Customer Support

For questions about the course content, please contact the Instructor.

Course Instructor: Elizabeth Tigner
Contact Information: instructor.etigner@onlineed.com
Instructor Availability: Monday-Friday, business hours, excluding holidays
Instructor Policy Response Time: within 1 business day
 
If you have questions about your account or course navigation, please contact the course provider:

OnlineEd
Phone: 1-(503)-670-9278
Email: mail@onlineed.com
Chat and additional options: https://www.onlineed.com/system/pages/contact.php

Completion & Attendance Requirements

Completion Requirements. Continuing education credit is awarded upon successful completion of all required course components and satisfaction of regulatory active time requirements.  You may exit and return to the course at any time. Your progress will be saved.

Assessments

Each unit will end in a multiple-choice quiz to test your knowledge. Quizzes require a score of at least 70% to proceed to the next unit. You can take quizzes as many times as needed.

The course will end with a final exam that requires a score of at least 70% to receive credit. Exams are graded instantly and can be attempted as many times as needed with no additional fees.

Course Completion Survey

Students are encouraged to submit a survey upon completion of the course. This short survey helps us improve the course material and student experience. It is required by most regulatory agencies. Your thoughtful feedback is appreciated.

Certificates & Credit Reporting

Upon successful completion of all course requirements, a certificate of completion will be issued.  You are responsible for maintaining a copy of your certificates of completion and renewing your license with the state regulator. 

OnlineEd will automatically report course completion credits to CE Broker within 1 business day on the student's behalf. Students don't need to take any additional steps for OnlineEd to initiate the reporting, except to complete the course and receive a completion certificate.

Technology Requirements

Courses may be accessed from a computer, tablet, or mobile device with a stable internet connection.  We recommend the most recent browser versions.  This includes all modern browsers and operating systems including Microsoft Edge, Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, Apple Safari, Opera, iPhone / iOS, and Android-based mobile devices, smartphones, and tablets. The course is entirely web-based and does not require any software to be downloaded or installed.  For accurate time tracking and progress recording, access courses in one browser window at a time. 

Course Prerequisites

There are no prerequisites for this course.

Refund & Cancellation Policy

All tuition and fees paid for the course are refundable when: (a) the course of instruction is discontinued by OnlineEd and such discontinuation has prevented a student from completing the course; or (b) the enrollment of the student was procured as a result of any misrepresentation in promotion materials of the school, or representation made by an owner or employee of the school. All refunds will be completed within 30 days after the effective date of enrollment termination. Refunds will not be given to any student after the student has successfully registered in a course or courses, as once registered, student has access to the registered courses. In hardship cases, OnlineEd may issue a refund at its sole discretion. OnlineEd does not issue retroactive partial refunds for courses that are subsequently discounted or put on sale after a student makes a purchase.

Academic Integrity and Identity Verification

Students must complete all coursework independently. OnlineEd prohibits misrepresentation of identity or allowing another individual to complete coursework on your behalf. Failure to comply with academic integrity policies may result in denial of credit.

Student Conduct Policy

Students are expected to show respect, courtesy, and consideration when interacting with school staff and students. Students are expected to conducting themselves in a professional, legal, and cooperative manner that is not disruptive, harassing, intimidating, or dangerous. Deviation from these standards may result in disciplinary action.

Non-Discrimination Policy

OnlineEd does not discriminate for admission on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, national origin, marital status, age or disability. Any person who feels they have been unlawfully discriminated against may file a complaint with the School Director, either by email (schooldirector@onlineed.com) or by postal mail (ATTN: School Director, 14355 SW Allen Blvd. Suite 240, Portland, OR 97005). If OnlineEd determines that any employee of OnlineEd has engaged in discriminatory activity, such employee shall be disciplined.

Grievance Policy

If a student has a grievance against OnlineEd, its staff or students, the aggrieved student shall contact the School Director by email or mail, stating the nature of the grievance. The School Director shall evaluate the grievance and respond to the student based upon their findings.

Policies on Cheating and Misrepresentation

Cheating on courses that supply completion certificates, designations, or official credit is not tolerated. OnlineEd is not obligated to continue to furnish credit or continued support for students caught cheating on any part of the coursework or testing.
 
Misrepresentation of personal identity is strictly forbidden for all OnlineEd courses. Falsifying personal information, forgery, and misrepresentation may result in immediate suspension. Additional actions by state and federal agencies may include loss or suspension of a license, failure to grant a license, fees, or criminal prosecution.

Publisher

This course is developed and delivered by OnlineEd, LLC.

OnlineEd, LLC
14255 SW Allen Blvd., Suite 240
Portland, OR 97005
(503) 670-9278
https://www.OnlineEd.com/
mail@OnlineEd.com

Mission Statement

To provide superior distance education that exceeds industry standards and expectations in course content and delivery methods to those who seek to enter a new profession and those engaged in a profession.