The energy crisis of the 1970’s is often remembered for gasoline reaching the unthinkable price of $1.00 a gallon and restrictions on filling your car to odd or even days. For the building industry the energy crisis marked a change in the way we thought about construction – a change exemplified by the transition from…

Home inspectors are often challenged by structural modifications, additions and electrical, mechanical or plumbing installations which have been performed without the benefit of a building permit. With the ever growing trend toward doing it yourself and the abundance of advertising encouraging the homeowner to be their own contractor, the frequency of un-permitted projects seems to…

Don’t go it alone. Working with a professional real estate broker is absolutely paramount to a smooth transaction and will help you avoid possible future legal issues, or challenges with documentation. They have intensive training in the real estate process, the forms, the legalities and the art of negotiation. Even if you think you have…

With rare exception, virtually everything happens for a reason. That is the most basic and critical underlying principle which guides a home inspector in their quest for discovery. Possessing a fundamental understanding of cause and effect relationships is what defines a true professional. There is nothing magical, mysterious, or transcendent about being a good home…

Nobody needs to be reminded about the high cost of heating fuels, especially those with struggling budgets. Identifying air leaks and heat loss from central forced air heating units is therefore an important part of the home inspection process. Certainly there can be significant issues with heat loss from the duct system in the attic…

For inspectors, there are many different reporting formats to choose from which operate on a variety of data collection methods. These may range from a simple written checklist to a sophisticated computer generated report where information is entered on a PDA. Regardless, there are some basic components to look for in any professionally prepared report:…

Popcorn ceilings were very popular from the late 50s to early 80s and almost always contained asbestos. Removing a popcorn ceiling built during these years should be done professionally since the risk of asbestos exposure is high. Popcorn / Acoustic Ceilings Popcorn ceilings (also known as acoustic ceilings) were extremely popular in most homes built…

It was France, 1783. After a number of experiments, Joseph and Etienne Montgolfier sent two brave human passengers aloft to an altitude of 3000 feet for a balloon ride that covered 9 Kilometers, (about 5.6 miles), and lasted 25 minutes. All because they knew from previous experiments that their carefully crafted fabric and paper sack,…

After considerable looking, you’ve finally found a home and made your offer. Now it’s time to consider the home inspection contingency. With reports of homes selling so quickly and multiple back up offers seemingly becoming commonplace, you may feel pressured to the point of just wanting to sign the contract, seal the deal and forego…

One of the most difficult things buyers face as they sift through the myriad of inspection findings on an older home is trying to decide what’s important. Personally, I like to use what I call the “70-20-10” approach. Simply put, 70% of the inspection findings document extraneous data, 20% report minor conditions and 10% are…