home: Water Management Systems - Plumbing Boots - 03/11/08 05:26 PM
Experience at HABITEC Home and Building Inspections, LLC, has shown that Water Management Systems are a major source of problems in Home and Commercial Building Inspections. Failures of these of systems can lead to more serious problems such as mold and structural failure.
The components of the Water Management System include the … (0 comments)
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home: Which Candidate Would Help the Real Estate Market? - 03/02/08 11:06 AM
As we see the list of candidates for our next President narrow to 3 (Senator Clinton, Senator McCain and Senator Obama) and eventually 2, which candidate do you think would be best for the real estate market going forward?
I know there is a lot more to consider when choosing a President … (0 comments)
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home: InspectorSpeak - The Good, The Bad and the Ugly! - 03/01/08 09:59 PM
As Home and Building Inspectors we have a responsibility to "tell like it is" when we are presenting our findings. But, I suggest that when we "tell it", there is a Good Way, a Bad Way and an Ugly Way!
The choice of words we use as Inspectors, what I call InspectorSpeak, can have a profound impact on … (3 comments)
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home: Inspectors and Realtors - Working Together to Move Things Forward! - 02/29/08 03:58 PM
At HABITEC Home and Building Inspections, LLC, it is the corporate philosophy that the Inspector can help facilitate the real estate transaction while still providing unbiased and clear Inspection results to the Client. There are several ways we try to do this.
First, I think we can all agree that almost every … (3 comments)
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home: Question: When Is A Crack in Brick Veneer Too Large? - 02/24/08 09:16 PM
Well, to some any crack is too big! But to many Inspectors 1/8 inch is a key number. If a crack in the brick veneer of a home or building exceeds 1/8" in opening, OR, shows differential movement, then the crack should be repaired.
In this picture on the right the vertical cracks are approaching … (5 comments)
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home: Question: What's That Smell? - 02/24/08 07:52 PM
WHAT'S THAT SMELL?
I knew you'd look. No, no gross pictures, just a discussion. Have you ever been in a home or building and detected an "odd" smell that seems to be coming from a bathroom? And no one has been in that bathroom for a long time, like weeks. Sometimes it … (3 comments)
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home: HABITEC Quoted in Tennessean Williamson AM Real Estate! - 02/22/08 07:36 AM
Please check out the front page article about Home Inspections and Home Inspector Reviews in today's (2/22/08) Tennessean Williamson AM Real Estate section.
Richard Acree, President of HABITEC Home and Building Inspections, LLC, was interviewed by Nancy Mueller of the Tennessean about Home Inspection services available at HABITEC and within the industry … (0 comments)
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home: What's Wrong With This Picture? 2/17/8 - 02/17/08 08:31 PM
This is obviously the crawl space of a house that is in a lot of trouble. Rumor had it a buzzard once lived here.
The moisture content and subsequent mold buildup were very high.
Richard
Comments in this blog posting are the copyrighted property of Richard Acree, President, HABITEC Home and Building … (1 comments)
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home: What's Wrong With This Picture - 2/16/8 - 02/17/08 08:13 PM
A family experienced symptoms of poor health and asked HABITEC Home and Building Inspections, LLC, to assess for mold and complete a home inspection. This is what we found behind the kitchen refrigerator. This area tested positive for stachybotrys, a highly toxic mold. The family has since moved out of the house.
Richard
Comments … (5 comments)
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home: What's Wrong With This Picture? - 02/14/08 11:00 PM
This is a HVAC condensate drain termination on the outside of a new house. The issue here is where is all the condensate going to go? The house sits on a crawl space so the water drains downs next to the foundation wall and follows the path of least resistance. Some … (0 comments)
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home: What's Wrong With This Picture? - 02/14/08 10:40 PM
This is about a foot of water covering the entry to a positive drain in a brand new home crawl space. The Inspection was two days after a heavy rain. The builder said the home is ready for occupancy! Note the ductwork in the upper left hand corner of the picture. … (4 comments)
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home: What's Wrong With This Picture? - 02/14/08 10:33 PM
Actually it is two pictures. The same piece of untreated dimensional lumber is shown going from the crawl space floor to the engineered beam above. First, the column/pier is untreated and in direct contact with the crawl space soil. This provides an easy conduit for water to wick up and, worse, … (5 comments)
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home: Mold Assessment Services - For or Against? - 02/09/08 12:25 PM
Some have suggested that mold services including testing and assessments are not necessary. I disagree and here is why.
First let me say that mold services are not for everybody. At HABITEC Home and Building Inspections, LLC, we have undergone training at two agencies and I can say that this is a complicated subject and … (2 comments)
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home: STORMS - DAMAGE CONTROL and PRAYERS! - 02/06/08 12:48 PM
First, for those of you who know someone who lost their lives or were injured in this recent storm damage please accept our condolences and know that our prayers are with you at this time.
Second, when these major storm damage events come through there is much to be done to stabilize … (0 comments)
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home: Question: How much does a Commercial Inspection cost? - 01/27/08 11:48 PM
Answer: Costs vary depending on the services requested by the Client. The services available for a Commercial Building Inspection are offered on an ala carte basis. Costs are then computed based on either a square foot basis or an hourly basis.
… (0 comments)
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home: Question: What services are available for a Commercial Building Inspection? - 01/27/08 11:46 PM
ANSWER: A reputable Commercial Building Inspector will offer the following services: a visual walk-through survey, a document review, key personnel interviews, an opinion of probable costs (estimate) to repair or upgrade, an abbreviated Tier II ADA survey, and environmental services.
… (0 comments)
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home: Question: How long will a Commercial Building Inspection take? - 01/27/08 11:45 PM
Answer: Again the 1 hour per thousand square foot rule is a reasonable estimate. Like Home Inspections, the time to complete a Commercial Building Inspection will vary depending on the services requested, the age of the structure, occupancy, etc.
… (0 comments)
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home: Question: Are the rules and standards for a Home Inspection different than the rules and standards for a Commercial Inspection? - 01/27/08 11:42 PM
Answer: Maybe. In some states Home Inspectors and/or Commercial Building Inspectors are licensed by the State. If licensed, Inspectors will be required to follow the standards set by the State. It is frequently the case that these standards will be different for a Home Inspection versus a Commercial Building Inspection. In … (0 comments)
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home: Question: What is the difference between a Home Inspection and a Commercial Building Inspection? - 01/27/08 11:40 PM
Answer: Home Inspection rules apply to structures that have (or are intended to have) people living in them but have no more than 4 family dwelling units. For instance, a 4 unit quad-home is a "home" that should be Inspected, individually or as a group, using the rules of a Home Inspection. … (0 comments)
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