B4U Close Blog by Erby, the Central Kentucky Home Inspector in Lexington, Kentucky

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Scotts Bluff

Scotts Bluff by Erby - The Central Kentucky Home Inspector

A recent visit back to my western Nebraska roots for Thanksgiving. I was a police officer in the town in picture 4, Gering, NE, from 1981 - 1986.

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Erby Crofutt
KY Lic# HI-2041
B4 U Close Home Inspections & Radon Testing
Georgetown, KY
www.b4uclose.com
502-570-4054
859-797-3873
877-513-8235

B4 U Close Home Inspections serves Central, Northern & Eastern Kentucky real estate buyers & sellers
with Kentucky Licensed Home Inspections & Certified Kentucky Radon Testing
Appointments available 7 days a week - 7 AM to 9 PM.
Phones answered during same period.

Call NOW for your B4 U Close Home Inspection appointment!!

Why should you hire Erby to inspect your home? See what past clients have to say!!

Here's what one B4 U Close client says: (Clicki the line above to see others)

Thank You for the outstanding job you did on the inspection. We bought and sold 9 houses and this was the only inspection that was ever done properly. It was helpful and we will use it to do the repairs with a system, instead of the guess work we usually do. Thanks again

Mike & Barbara, Stamping Ground, KY (20050603

See a B 4 U Close Home Inspection sample report by clicking the report picture below

Posted by Erby Crofutt, the Central Kentucky Home Inspector, Lexington KY HI-2041 on 12/11/2009 08:48 PM

Comments (24)

scotts bluff, scottsbluff, nebraska

Gratitude and Patriotism: A Country Boy’s Perspective!

"Gratitude and Patriotism: A Country Boy's Perspective!"

The Scott County Extension Center will be holding the Scott County Farm City Banquet at 6:00 PM, Tuesday, November 24th, 2009.

IT'S FREE BUT RESERVATIONS ARE REQUIRED
by Friday, November 20th, 2009
See below for RSVP & Directions.

Titled "Honoring Pioneer Farmers and Businesses" Speaker Gary Lacefield will be speaking on "Gratitude and Patriotism: A Country Boy's Perspective".

The evening will be closed out with top notch entertainment. I don't know what the entertainment is but I bet it'll be great!

The Extension Center asks that you bring a couple of non-perishable food items with you. All food collected will be donated to one of the Scott County Food Banks.

For Reservations call Josh Renaker, County Agent for Agriculture and Natural Resources at 863-0984 or Send Him A Text or E-Mail Him.

Directions:
Scott County Extension Center
1130 Cincinnati Pike, Georgetown, KY

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Mike & Barbara, Stamping Ground, KY (20050603

See a B 4 U Close Home Inspection sample report by clicking the report picture below

Posted by Erby Crofutt, the Central Kentucky Home Inspector, Lexington KY HI-2041 on 11/19/2009 03:54 PM

Comments (2)

kentucky home inspectors georgetown activities

Best BBQ in Central Kentucky & Karaoke Too! - FAT BOYS BBQ

Best BBQ in Central Kentucky & Karaoke Too!

- FAT BOYS BBQ

Located on Cincinnati Road five miles north of Georgetown, Kentucky is the best little BBQ Joint and Homecooking Restaurant in Kentucky! Kentucky Home Inspectors favorite Georgetown Kentucky BBQ Restaurant See the bottom of this post for directions on getting there.

Now throw in Karaoke on Friday and Saturday nights, some mixed live music on some other nights, and you have all the great eating and entertainment you'll need to fill your evening.

The Sampler Platter will fill most of you beyond capacity.

C'mon out and see
'The Fat Boys - Frank & Johnny".

Tell them Erby said "Hey!"!

The Fat Boys are Open
Monday thru Saturday
6:00 AM - 9:00 PM

Sunday
7:00 PM - 8:00 PM

Kentucky Home Inspectors Fat Boys BBQ Flying Pig

Just look for the Flying Pig they've added out front. You can't miss it. I mean, how often do you see flying pigs!!!

And if you can't make it there - Call them.
They deliver BBQ & Home Cooking in the Georgetown Kentucky Area.

Fat Boys BBQ Restaurant
2176 Cincinnati Pike
Georgetown, KY
502-867-1031

Kentucky Home Inspectors Picture of Frank & Johnny West - Fat Boys BBQ Team

Frank & Johnny West started Fat Boys BBQ a few years ago through competitive BBQ events. Then they started selling it at local festivals, shows, and events.

In February, 2009 they added their operation into the old Cedar Post Restaurant adding their wonderful BBQ to the great homecooking and Karaoke.

Kentucky Home Inspectors BBQ Smoker Barn

Hidden inside their BBQ Barn (built by Rick Morrison, Barns Unlimited - 502-316-3151) is the mechanical end of the secret to their success.

Kentucky Home Inspectors BBQ Smoker

Yup, it's THE BBQ SMOKER! Some of the best BBQ in the world comes out of this thing! Of course, that's because of Frank & Johnny's skill with timing, type of wood, heat, placement in the smoker, spices, sauces & meat selection, not just the smoker.

I could put some meat in this thing and turn it into shoe leather, no problem.

I prefer to leave the BBQ stuff to Frank & Johnny.

I'll take care of the EATING PART. I do that REAL WELL!

They don't talk about it much but they ARE award winning BBQers. I got a glimpse of some of the event trophies they've won.

Kentucky Home Inspectors Fat Boys BBQ Awards

C'mon Out And Try Some!!!

You'll Love It!!

Getting there!

Exit 129 on I-75

GO 1/2 Mile West over the hill

Turn Left at the Dead End

YOU'RE THERE!

Enjoy it!! I do. FREQUENTLY!

Kentucky Home Inspectors Favorite BBQ Restaurant Georgetown Kentucky

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Mike & Barbara, Stamping Ground, KY (20050603

See a B 4 U Close Home Inspection sample report by clicking the report picture below

Posted by Erby Crofutt, the Central Kentucky Home Inspector, Lexington KY HI-2041 on 11/18/2009 04:48 PM

Comments (8)

Best BBQ in Central Kentucky in the Regional (Localism) Channel

kentucky home inspectors, bbq, georgetown kentucky

Toy Drive for Military Families in Kentucky

Kentucky Home Inspector Support Kentucky Military Families The Lexington Bluegrass Association of Realtors (LBAR) is sponsoring a Toy Drive for Kentucky Military Families this year.

Please help support the Kentucky Military Families who have put their lives on hold to serve this great nation.

LBAR is asking members to donate new unwrapped toys for all ages, KROGER (local grocery chain) Gift Cards, and/or money for LBAR to buy this stuff with. It all goes to Kentucky military families. The Toy Drive is a state wide program being managed by the Kentucky Guard Assistance Center.

The deadline is December 9th. If you want to participate, please drop your contribution off at the LBAR office by that date.

If you have questions about this Toy Drive for Military Families in Kentucky you can contact

Don Sullivan,
Toy Drive Coordinator
859-321-3000

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Mike & Barbara, Stamping Ground, KY (20050603

See a B 4 U Close Home Inspection sample report by clicking the report picture below

Posted by Erby Crofutt, the Central Kentucky Home Inspector, Lexington KY HI-2041 on 11/16/2009 09:21 PM

Comments (1)

Toy Drive for Kentucky Military Families in the Regional (Localism) Channel

kentucky home inspections, kentucky home nspectors, toy drive for military families

Are you a PERFORMING ARTIST! Kentucky Wants YOU!

Kentucky Home Inspector on the World Equestrian Games You may already know that The World Equestrian Games (the equestrian Olumpics) are coming to Lexington Kentucky the Horse Capital of the World on September 25 - October 10, 2010. More than half a million people are expected to visit the games during their run. (I think I may just leave town and avoid the crowd)

BUT did you know that the Kentucky Arts Council is looking for Kentucky performing artists to show their stuff at the Kentucky Experience Pavillion during the games. The Pavillion will provide performers with a stage to show the world the different aspects of Kentucky Performing Artists, both professional and community/school performers.

According to a recent press release, the Kentucky Arts Council is providing the Kentucky Experience Pavillion as a place for Kentucky Performing Artists to show their stuff to the world.

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To welcome our visitors and give them the opportunity to experience the sights and sounds of Kentucky without leaving the grounds of the Horse Park, the Kentucky Experience will feature nearly 25,000 square feet of exhibits, displays, products, entertainment, food and art from across the commonwealth. The area will include a welcome center, courtyard, and exhibit, product and entertainment pavilions.

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Guidelines and applications are available here. Kentucky Arts Council Guidelines and Appiications

Put on your facny and show your stuff to the world!!

Kentucky Home Inspectors on Kentucky Horse Park

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Mike & Barbara, Stamping Ground, KY (20050603

See a B 4 U Close Home Inspection sample report by clicking the report picture below

Posted by Erby Crofutt, the Central Kentucky Home Inspector, Lexington KY HI-2041 on 11/14/2009 05:53 AM

Comments (2)

Kentucky Performing Artists in the Regional (Localism) Channel

kentucky home inspectors, kentucky performing artists, kentucky horse park

Anti-Gravity "S" Trap - It just doesn't HOLD WATER!

Today just seems like a good day to share some of the plumbing foibles that I've ran across lately!

First up and freshest in my mind, because it was from a Lexington Kentucky Home Inspection I just did yesterday was Electricians & Rednecks should NOT do plumbing repairs!

Berea Kentucky Home Inspector S Trap

And NOW, without further ado, I bring you

The Anti-Gravity "S" Trap!

My Smell Detector wasn't having to work hard on the day I walked into the Berea Kentucky Home Inspection with my client.

The purpose of the trap is to HOLD water to prevent sewer smells coming back up the drain pipe into the house.

That's right. This "trap" isn't going to stop any smells.

Nowadays, a "P" trap is used, and has been for quite awhile. You just know someone was smelling a lot of crap for a long time with this in the house.

For your elucidation (yes, sometimes I like to use those big words, but not in Kentucky home inspection reports)

here's a proper "P" trap and proper (though old and not used anymore) "S" trap configuration! The bottom pictures show you why they're called what they are BUT they should NOT be installed vertical.


P Trap	S Trap

P Trap (vertical for effect only)	S Trap (vertical for effect only)

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Mike & Barbara, Stamping Ground, KY (20050603

See a B 4 U Close Home Inspection sample report by clicking the report picture below

Posted by Erby Crofutt, the Central Kentucky Home Inspector, Lexington KY HI-2041 on 11/07/2009 05:04 PM

Comments (5)

Plumbing Trap Installations in the Home Improvement Channel

lexington kentucky home inspectors, plumbing traps

Electricians & Rednecks should NOT do plumbing repairs!

Sometimes, when this ole Lexington Kentucky Home Inspector is conducting a home inspection, I see things that just leave me speechless for quite awhile.

Lexington Kentucky Home Inspectors plumbing w/ tape Here's one of those speechless Kentucky Home Inspector moments from yesterday.

For sure, electricians (electrical tape) and rednecks (duct tape) have no clue on how to hold plumbing pipes in place as designed.

When you get an electrician and a redneck on the same plumbing job, often in the same body, this is the kind of repair that results!

For more cockamamie home inspection photos, you can visit my B4 U Close Home Inspections Cockamamie Photo Album.

Yeah, I know it was a homeowner fix, not an electrician.

One of those Git Er Dun Good Nuff moments.

It's so much easier on me when I find the Git Er Dun Right stuff

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Mike & Barbara, Stamping Ground, KY (20050603

See a B 4 U Close Home Inspection sample report by clicking the report picture below

Posted by Erby Crofutt, the Central Kentucky Home Inspector, Lexington KY HI-2041 on 11/07/2009 02:30 PM

Comments (47)

Tape Is Not a Plumbing Repair in the Home Improvement Channel

lexington kentucky home inspectors, plumbing

Seven Ways to Use a Home Inspection Report

Clients often ask me what to do with the inspection report after the inspection. Here's seven short succint answers to that question for both buyers and sellers of homes in Lexington Kentucky provided by James Bushart, a Missouri Home Inspector.

Erby

Via Jim Bushart (Home Inspection Services of Missouri):

In random order, I present to you seven different ways in which a home inspection report can be used by parties to a real estate transaction for advantage and benefit.

1. Buyers can consider the reported conditions of the home's systems to determine their ability to afford to maintain the property. A home with a 12 year old water heater, an 18 year old furnace and a 25 year old composite shingled roof is going to need some costly investments in the near future.

2. Buyers can sometimes use information regarding undisclosed defects to negotiate the seller's action to repair the defect(s) or adjust the asking price for the home.

3. Sellers can obtain a home inspection and use the report to disclose known defects to potential buyers.

4. Sellers can obtain a home inspection and use the report to identify and correct significant defects that could interfere with a buyer's desire to submit a contract to buy the property.

5. Buyers can use the inspection report as a "punch list" or "to do list" for maintaining the property after purchase.

6. Buyers/Sellers can use the report to communicate to contractors the nature of the defect(s) to obtain estimates for repair or to arrange for repairs or replacements.

7. Buyers can sometimes use the inspection report as a means to withdraw from the contracted agreement to purchase the home when certain types of undisclosed defects are reported.

Buyers and sellers should consider obtaining inspection reports only from professional full-time home inspectors. Inspection reports generated by builders or contractors are often used by them as marketing tools and a means to generate business for maintenance and repairs and do not always represent the actual conditions of the property.

James H. Bushart, CMI

www.missourihomeinspection.com

314-803-2167

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Mike & Barbara, Stamping Ground, KY (20050603

See a B 4 U Close Home Inspection sample report by clicking the report picture below

Posted by Erby Crofutt, the Central Kentucky Home Inspector, Lexington KY HI-2041 on 11/03/2009 10:11 AM

Comments (1)

Seven Ways to Use an Inspection Report in the Home Buying Channel

lexington kentucky home inspectors, home inspection report

How's the Neighborhood?

Buying a home in the Lexington, Kentucky area? Are yoiu asking "How do I find a good neighborhood that I want to live in?"

Please understand that some people, notably Lexington Kentucky Realtors, are hamstrung by the Fair Housing Act. They can't say anything that might be considered discriminatory.

Raine Carrow, a Realtor in the Hickory, Lenoir, or Morganton, NC area, offers this advice on checking out your proposed neighborhood!

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Via Raine Carraway - Realtor® Lenoir NC & Morganton North Carolina (Century 21 - American Homes):

I was talking to a friend from high school earlier. She's a recent college graduate and looking to relocate because of her new job. One of the things she was telling me is that she was frustrated because she will be buying in a state she's not very familiar with, and she doesn't understand why her agent can't just tell her where the "good" and "bad" neighborhoods are, or include a "more detailed" [I think she meant more opinionated] breakdown of the areas in which different homes were.

I've run into this same frustration before with clients, and sometimes it can be irritating as an agent that we can't just answer certain types of questions directly and tell them what we really think. One reason for this is the Fair Housing Act - we don't know why you're asking and cannot legally say anything that might be perceived as "steering" a clients towards or away from a certain area, or that may seem to be discriminatory.

Also, tastes are subjective, and even the "worst" neighborhoods have people who choose to live there, for one reason or another. Since I haven't lived in every neighborhood I show homes in, my idea of what a neighborhood is like may not be accurate, or may be based on one or more positive or negative experiences that really reflect the day-to-day reality of living there.

Since there's not much I can say about a neighborhood, good or bad, I try to help my clients find out the answers to their questions, and form their impression of the neighborhood for themselves.

My advice to clients, and anyone else comparing neighborhoods is this:

First of all, drive around the neighborhood. Some of the best times to do this are weekdays around 6pm when people are getting home from work, or earlier when the school buses are out, if the number or ages of children in the neighborhood is important to you. Weekends are also good, because families tend to be home, and you can check out neighborhood yard sales and have a chance to talk to some of the people who live in the area.

Pay attention to the condition and types of properties in the immediate vicinity. Are neighbors mowing their lawns, raking leaves, and maintaining their properties, or is there trash and many "run-down" looking homes and lots? Are there a lot of kids playing in the street? Does the property conform to its surroundings? If it’s the only single-family on a street of multi-families, or a stick built home surrounded by mobile homes, then the value of the single-family is negatively impacted by the properties around it.

If you are unable to drive around an area, then using "Street View" on Google Maps can at least give you an idea of what the street and neighboring homes look like, and how well the exteriors of the homes and yards are maintained, although you won't have the chance to speak with the neighbors face-to-face.

To ask people in an area about a particular neighborhood, some good choices would be online, community-centered, message boards like City-Data.com or Topix.

For crime statistics, call the local police station and ask about statistics for the neighborhood. Most are willing to help, and they can better explain why certain figures are higher or lower in different places in why. Some officers may also give you their personal opinions of which neighborhoods are safer to live in, but keep in mind it is an opinion.

To find out about sex offenders in the area, there are sites like Family Watchdog, which plots out the offenders' locations on a map, or law-enforcement run sites such as the North Carolina Sex Offender Registry and the Dru Sjodin National Sex Offender Public Website.

Information on schools can be found at School Data Direct, the National Center for Education Statistics, or GreatSchools.net, and by searching for your city or county's public school website for links to specific schools and the programs they offer.

The EPA offers a website with information on environmental hazards and conditions by area.

Demographic information and area profiles can be found on many sites, including the US Census, ZIPskinny, and City-Data.

If you are looking to buy or sell a home in the Hickory, Lenoir, or Morganton, NC area, or if you would like the direct website links or phone numbers for local police, schools, etc to check out the information for your neighborhood in Caldwell, Catawba, or eastern Burke County, please give me a call at (828) 430-1936.

Raine Carraway - REALTOR®

Century 21 American Homes

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Mike & Barbara, Stamping Ground, KY (20050603

See a B 4 U Close Home Inspection sample report by clicking the report picture below

Posted by Erby Crofutt, the Central Kentucky Home Inspector, Lexington KY HI-2041 on 11/03/2009 09:40 AM

Comments (2)

kentucky home inspectors lexington neighborhood search

Spooktacular - Trick or Treating

It was a dark & spooky night

Dark and Spooky Night for Trick or Treating - Georgetown, KY Home Inspector

The clouds were red with

the setting sun.

Spooks on Halloween - Georgetown Kentucky Home Inspector

The spooks were prowling

the area!

Spooks on Halloween2 - Georgetown Kentucky Home Inspector

One brought food storage

with her!

Including cereal on top

of the refrigerator!

Super Hero on Halloween - Georgetown Kentucky Home Inspector

Fortunately, the super heroes
were also prowling the area
to keep us safe!

The spooks walked away
with about 3 pounds of candy
AND the superheroes carried
away almost 6 pounds
of candy.

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Mike & Barbara, Stamping Ground, KY (20050603

See a B 4 U Close Home Inspection sample report by clicking the report picture below

Posted by Erby Crofutt, the Central Kentucky Home Inspector, Lexington KY HI-2041 on 10/31/2009 08:06 PM

Comments (10)

Spooktacular Georgetown Halloween Trick or Treat in the Regional (Localism) Channel

georgetown kentucky home nspectors, holiday events

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Erby Crofutt, the Central Kentucky Home Inspector, Lexington KY HI-2041

Lexington, KY

More about me…

B4 U Close Home Inspections&Radon Testing (www.b4uclose.com)

Address: 104 Lawson Drive, Suite 103-400, Georgetown, KY, 40324

Office Phone: (859) 797-3873

Cell Phone: (502) 570-4054

Email Me

B4 U Close Home Inspections, Georgetown, KY Kentucky Home Inspections - Central, Northern and Eastern Kentucky Home Inspector Kentucky Radon Measurement and Testing for Kentucky Home Buyers and Kentucky Home Sellers

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