Rental Housing & Home Sales / Inspection Services

It appears rental housing here in Maryland are becoming an all time high.  Most property owners I have spoken to claim they are not able to sell there home for what they feel its worth so they are turning them into rental units until they feel the market changes.  

Tax claims can be deducted on pretty much any out of poscket expense relating to your property just as if it were your primary residence including INSPECTION SERVICES.

Some counties in Maryland require rental inspections. 

Baltimore County Code Enforcement requires a Baltimore County Rental Inspection on any and all rental properties in order to obtain a rental license. Just like the state of Maryland they also require you to have a Lead Inspection done if your property was built before 1950. 

♦♦ Lead Paint Inspections ♦♦

Nikki Marlatt-Young (410) 300-8699


Email: nikkimarlattyoung@ateasehome.com

Website: www.ateasehome.com

MARYLAND DEPARTMENT OF THE ENVIRONMENT LEAD PAINT INSPECTIONS FOR REAL ESTATE, PROPERTY SELLERS/BUYERS, AND RENTAL UNITS.

Contact me for other inspection services such as: Baltimore County Rental Licensing Inspections, Radon Testing, Real Estate Home Inspections.

Maryland Lead Paint Inspectors #12009

LEAD PAINT CERTIFICATES FOR RENTAL HOUSING - Testing for lead-contaminated dust an inspector must collect dust samples from each room in the unit. Each dust sample must be analyzed by a qualified laboratory, and the results must fall below specified levels. In general, testing for lead-contaminated dust is most likely to be successful in a clean, well-maintained property. Prior to testing for lead dust the inspector must verify that there is no defective paint on the interior or exterior.

Houses and Apartment Buildings built before 1950 have highest risk for lead hazards. Buildings built before 1978 are also at risk for lead hazards. 

Always look for signs of lead hazards such as:

• chipping, peeling, damaged paint
• doors & windows that rub when you try to open them
• paint chips in window wells, on the floor, on the exterior or on the soil outside. 

Before dust sampling can be done a visual inspection of the exterior is done to make sure that all painted areas have no chipping, peeling, or damage. 

After the visual is complete and passes the dust sampling process is begun.  Samples are taken from window sills & wells or floor & wells this is at the discretion of the Inspector.

• If replacement windows are present only the window sill or floor areas are tested.
• If no windows are present a floor area would be tested. 

MARYLAND DEPARTMENT OF THE ENVIRONMENT LEAD PAINT INSPECTIONS FOR REAL ESTATE, PROPERTY SELLERS/BUYERS, AND RENTAL UNITS.

MDE Lead Paint Inspector :

Nikki Marlatt-Young (410) 300-8699 Maryland Lead Paint Inspectors #12009 Email: nikkimarlattyoung@ateasehome.com Website: www.ateasehome.com Contact me for other inspection services such as:

• Baltimore County Rental Inspections
• Radon Testing
• Real Estate Home Inspections.

LEAD PAINT CERTIFICATES FOR RENTAL HOUSING - Testing for lead-contaminated dust an inspector must collect dust samples from each room in the unit. Each dust sample must be analyzed by a qualified laboratory, and the results must fall below specified levels. In general, testing for lead-contaminated dust is most likely to be successful in a clean, well-maintained property. Prior to testing for lead dust the inspector must verify that there is no defective paint on the interior or exterior.

I am asking sincerely for everyones help!  My neighbor Emily is desperately seeking help in finding her missing brother.  

I know you may not know her or her brother but networking and getting info passed is the best way we can help.

(If you need to contact me about this please call my cell @ 410-300-8699 & I will get you in touch w/ Emily or her roommate Kasey)

Kevin Ange has been missing since approximately 11:30pm Friday 2/5/2010.

Last known walking in the 400 block of "Croydon Rd" Northern Baltimore City 21212.

Kevin Ange
White male
25/26yrs old
6'0-6'1"
150-175lbs (roughly)
Dirty blondish hair

* Last seen wearing blue jeans, navy blue hooded coat & a black skull cap*

 
 

If you or anyone you know lives in this area please help... 

You can also help by passing this message out to anyone and everyone in your network that is in the Baltimore City, Baltimore County Area.

This is very important to me as my neighbor Emily is more then just a neighbor to me she is a very kind hearted soul whom I know would help anyone else in this type of situation. 

I have attached a photo of Kevin in hopes that you too will post it and we can help Emily & her family find her brother!

(If you need to contact me about this please call my cell @ 410-300-8699 & I will get you in touch w/ Emily or her roommate Kasey)

As I am a Housing Inspector & Rental Inspector sometimes it is confused w/ Code Enforcement.

I have received many calls today about sidewalks that have yet to be cleared of snow & debris in front of properties that are For Sale or Rent.  My response to these calls are there is really nothing I can do expect put word out about the issue.  As this response is not good enough for some folks.... and I don't like giving potential clients answers they don't want to hear!!!  

So I am putting the word out to eveyone I am networked w/ to Please...... READ.....

• If you are selling or renting a property Please, Please don't forget to clear those sidewalks.

Calls I received today are about a house for sale in front of a school zone where crossing guards cross children and their parents.

I am not sure of the liability one would endure if someone were to fall and seriously hurt themselves.  As I am sure it wouldn't be one I would want.  

Thank you and I hope this finds you all well!  

Yours Truly,  

Nikki Marlatt-Young   :)

Rental Housing Licenses

Baltimore County Code Enforcement  is requiring Baltimore County Rental Property Owners to install carbon monoxide detectors in the common areas outside of each sleeping area. 

• CO detectors must be installed in all rental properties, including those built prior to January 1, 2008 

All new and Re-Inspected Rental Properties will be required to have those installed to pass the Baltimore County Rental Inspections by a Maryland Licensed Home Inspector.  Baltimore Code Enforcement will give those property owners that have already had their units inspected time to get those devices installed. 

If you need further information on this issue please feel free to contact me at anytime.  Nikki Marlatt-Young (410) 300-8699 /or/ nikkimarlattyoung@ateasehome.com

Protect your family, install carbon monoxide alarms. These devices literally save lives.

They sound an alarm before the average adult normally would experience symptoms of CO poisoning.

Detectors are relatively inexpensive and can be purchased at most hardware stores or supply stores. They are easy to install if following the manufacturer’s guidelines. Fire officials recommend you place the alarms high on the walls of the house, if carbon monoxide is present, it will be fairly well-mixed with the existing air in a house.  Install alarm in the hallway outside of all sleeping area and in rooms with fireplaces and fuel-burning appliances.

Test your alarm monthly by pushing the test button. If your alarm goes off, never ignore it. Do the following.

The state of Maryland and Baltimore County have taken steps to place carbon monoxide detectors in many residences.

Information about these laws and regulations is available online.

Nikki Marlatt-Young
MD Licensed Housing Inspector #30395
(410) 300-8699
nikkimarlattyoung@ateasehome.com

A Little Too Much Protection ~ Outside Air Condition Unit ~ Home Made Slab

When I saw this I was like WOW!  Someone went a little overboard with the concrete block.  

Even though the block is heavy this thing is not stable at all! 

Makes me wonder if Uncle Handyman really knew what he/she was doing when they installed the unit. 

Or maybe they thought they had to make sure the slab was also raised.  

What do you think? 

Nikki Marlatt-Young

Maryland Licensed Home Inspector #30395

(410) 300-8699  - Direct Phone

nikkimarlattyoung@ateasehome.com - Direct Email

www.ateasehome.com

Home Inspection & Pre-Sale Inspection Services Provided to all of Maryland Areas

Baltimore County Rental Inspections

Radon Testing

Home Inspectors here in Maryland are not suppose to use the word "MOLD" unless you are certified to test for mold. 

However we are allowed to write in our reports "Mold Type Substance".  Which is perfectly fine with me.... 

However in this case I really want to write "EXTREME MOLD ISSUES".  

The home owner just re-did the basement bathroom about 2 months ago. Looks as though they will be doing that job over!!!!  

Nikki Marlatt-Young

Maryland Licensed Home Inspector #30395

(410) 300-8699  - Direct Phone

nikkimarlattyoung@ateasehome.com - Direct Email

www.ateasehome.com

Home Inspection & Pre-Sale Inspection Services Provided to all of Maryland Areas

Baltimore County Rental Inspections

Radon Testing

Standing in the bathroom admiring the Turbine Vent Spin!

Wanted to share some interesting things I found in a row home located in the city. The unit has no attic and a flat roof. A couple months ago a roofing company was hired to install;

• Granulated Modified Bitumen Roofing System over existing Flat Rubber Roof.
• Sky Light glass was removed, and area was filled in with wood.
• Contractor installed a “Turbine Non Powered Vent” instead of the exhaust fan.

As I am standing there I am thinking to myself... Nothing like being in a bathroom admiring the turbine non-powered vent go round and round insteading of reading a newspaper or book.  (LoL)

I have never seen a “Turbine” on a flat roof, nor have I ever been in someones bathroom and been able to look up and see a Turbine spinning, has anyone else?

If you fill the area in under the turbine, what good is that turbine doing? I always thought the turbine was for "attic" areas to exhaust heat and humidity from the attic.... but there is no attic!  

She only did it to pass lead inspection, who cares about safety??

I couldn't believe what I was hearing the other day when I went to inspect this house.

So I go to open a window, only to find the window was sealed shut. So I go to open another window only to find it was screwed shut. Then after trying to open all the windows I found that either they were sealed screwed or nailed shut.

As the owner of the property lives out of state I spoke with her on the telephone. I asked what the reasoning was behind making all the windows in the house un-operable.

Her response to me was shocking!

This lady explained the reason she sealed all the windows, and made it so they were un-operable was to pass and receive a lead certification. I explained to her due to the fact she did this only put her now in a fire/safety violation.

Her response was icing on the cake!

She stated... "I know what I have done and if there was a fire in the house and someone was trapped they could just break the window, they do not need to open it. Its just glass"

To top things off.... I asked her if the realtor she hired was aware of this.... she stated "in deed and was told it is ok... that house will sell because the kitchen is beautiful"!

I told her (of course in a nice sweet way) that I have no idea who her realtor is... but I have never heard ANY realtor or any other person that sells houses EVER state such things....