Archive for September 2022
Appliance Makeovers to Die For
It is probably fair to say that most significant home improvement projects usually encounter challenges along the way; be they surprises inside the walls, unexpected construction related problems, or unplanned cost overruns. However, appliance makeovers in particular also have the potential to create unintended consequences, some of which can be a matter of life and…
Read MoreA Home Inspector’s Journal: Crawl Space Framing Alterations
If you were to ask any home inspector, he or she would likely say that the majority of their inspections are performed on used homes where the importance of having a home inspection seems to be a given. On the other hand, home inspections on new construction often seem to be neglected, most likely because…
Read MoreHome Inspections – The Etiquette of Scheduling
Years ago, I never really gave much consideration to cancelling an appointment last minute, especially when it was something I wasn’t particularly looking forward to, like having a tooth filled. However, self employment has given me a much different perspective. In fact, like most inspectors, last minute cancellations remain a great source of frustration. Often…
Read MoreHome Inspections and Decks
Home Inspections reveal safety flaws with deck construction. Deck projects are one of the more common do it yourself projects, often portrayed as straightforward and easy to do. However, recent deck collapses suggest otherwise and in fact, Home Inspectors often discover critical safety concerns with homeowner built decks. There are three basic structural principles that…
Read MoreIn the market for a new roof? Here are some guidelines to help you along the way.
The first step is to understand that the vast majority of our residential roofs are designed with a pitch because they are actually not waterproof systems. Roof pitch, which defines how steeply the roof rises in elevation, allows the roof to shed water and dictates what types of materials are appropriate and how they should…
Read MoreKick Out Flashings
As someone who is extremely familiar with what may happen to a home as it ages, identification of water penetration issues is paramount during the inspection. Among these, the lack of a kickout flashing is probably the most frequent flashing defect I see, whether new construction or old. Since “code” always seems to come up…
Read MoreHome Inspections – The Last Man In
Ask any home inspector about the true nature of their job and they will describe themselves as a generalist responsible for identifying readily visible conditions which may require further investigation, or remediation by a specialist. If a home inspector discovers a condition with a system, or component, they should have sufficient knowledge and understanding to…
Read MorePicky Home Inspectors and Inspection Conditions
If ever a common denominator existed among home inspectors, it is being labeled as too picky. And whether accurate or meant as an off handed compliment, it often speaks to a lack of understanding about home inspections. At the heart of this is the difference between documenting condition versus documenting conditions. Describing the condition of…
Read MorePreparing Your Home for an Inspection
There is no doubt that the inspection process adds another level of stress to the transaction, however, it doesn’t necessarily need to be a, “nail biter”. Addressing a few typical home care and safety issues is not only an important part of normal maintenance, but can also do a lot to facilitate the inspection. The…
Read MoreThe Risks of Partial Inspections
It’s becoming more common in these tough economic times for home buyers to call and request a partial inspection in an attempt to save a few dollars. The conversation is almost always the same, the house looks good to them and the inspection is only needed to identify any “important issues”, of course for a…
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