tennessee: Water Management Systems - Plumbing Boots
- 03/11/08 10:26 AM
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 roof, gutter/downspout/extension subsystem, windows, doors and gradient of the landscaping. All of these have in common the responsibility of moving water off and/or away from the building. The purpose of this article is to remind all home and building owners about a maintenance item that we each need to be aware of. … (0 comments)
tennessee: InspectorSpeak - The Good, The Bad and the Ugly!
- 03/01/08 01:59 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 the outcome of a real estate transaction and on the impression we make with our Clients. At HABITEC Home and Building Inspections, LLC, we try to use words like issues versus problems, deteriorated versus rot, conductor versus wire and column versus post. We are not saying that words like problem, rot, wire … (3 comments)
tennessee: Inspectors and Realtors - Working Together to Move Things Forward!
- 02/29/08 07:58 AM
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 home or building, new or existing, will probably have "issues" that need to be addressed. The key word in that statement is issues. Note that I do not use the word "problem". We all have issues in our every day lives that need to be addressed. Yet perhaps you will agree that … (3 comments)
tennessee: Foreclosure Rates: Reverse the Numbers!
- 02/26/08 12:06 AM
Todays (2/26/8) Tennessean Business article headlines about foreclosures in the US says that, according to RealtyTrac Inc. and a CA research firm, foreclosure activity increased 57% in January versus last year. Sounds terrible doesn't it!? THE SKY IS FALLING! Yet go further in the article and you see that these foreclosure numbers represent 19 out of every 10,000 household. Doing that math shows .19% of homes in foreclosure in January!! Not even 1%. Another way to look at it is to say that 99.81% of households are NOT in foreclosure. Strip out Florida, California and Nevada and the numbers would be … (1 comments)
tennessee: Question: When Is A Crack in Brick Veneer Too Large?
- 02/24/08 01:16 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 1/2" in width. Clearly this is unacceptable as the potential for water and insect intrusion is readily apparent. This veneer is on a home that is over 50 years old and the concrete mortar is breaking down. Fortunately the veneer was not "moving" off the house due to a foundation or brick ledge failure. Also, the … (5 comments)
tennessee: Question: What's That Smell?
- 02/24/08 11:52 AM
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 smells like sewage. What can be causing that smell? Answer, it could be the trap. The trap is the part of the drain system that has a U or J shaped bend in it. A plumbing trap is not there to "trap" your wedding ring, earring, or other small item … (3 comments)
tennessee: HABITEC Quoted in Tennessean Williamson AM Real Estate!
- 02/21/08 11:36 PM
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 for new and existing homes. The "home review" mentioned is actually the "Home Inspector Review" service discussed earlier on AR by HABITEC. Like staging, a Home Inspector Review can help make a home that is for sale more appealing to buyers in this very competitive real estate market. And it costs … (0 comments)
tennessee: A HABITEC Milestone - 12 Music Circle South on Music Row!!
- 02/20/08 01:50 PM
A HABITEC MILESTONE HABITEC Home and Building Inspections, LLC, was recently selected to complete a Commercial Building Property Condition Assessment on 12 Music Circle South, Nashville, TN. This unique, two story music recording studio located in Music Row was purchased by the Black River Music Group. The building has a rich history and tradition in the recording industry as it was once owned by Ronnie Milsap. Milsap recorded many of his greatest hits here making this site so much a part of Music City, USA. This is the first recording studio Inspected by HABITEC! The building has a sophisticated 3-phase electrical system … (0 comments)
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 Inspections, LLC, and are intended to educate and otherwise assist home owners, sellers and buyers, building owners, sellers and buyers, realtors, real estate investors, property managers, and lenders in the process of owning, buying or selling homes or commercial buildings. HABITEC is a residential (home) and commercial building inspection company serving Middle Tennessee … (1 comments)
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 in this blog posting are the copyrighted property of Richard Acree, President, HABITEC Home and Building Inspections, LLC, and are intended to educate and otherwise assist home owners, sellers and buyers, building owners, sellers and buyers, realtors, real estate investors, property managers, and lenders in the process of owning, buying or selling … (5 comments)
tennessee: What's Wrong With This Picture?
- 02/14/08 03:00 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 of that water will penetrate the foundation wall, or wick under the foundation and into the crawl space. We encourage the drain to terminate at least 16" from the wall and onto a downward/negative sloped terrain to make sure the condensate drains away from the home. This may pass code … (0 comments)
tennessee: What's Wrong With This Picture?
- 02/14/08 02:40 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. How long do you think it will be before mold sets in? Richard … (4 comments)
tennessee: What's Wrong With This Picture?
- 02/14/08 02:33 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, for termites to eat/climb up. Second, there is no plastic between the beam and the column. Third, the plastic moisture barrier is open instead of closed and/or overlapping. This was a brand new house and the builder said it was ready for ownership! Richard
… (5 comments)
tennessee: Selling Homes in a Crowded Market
- 01/30/08 01:13 PM
SELLING HOMES IN A CROWDED MARKET (HINT: Hire a HOME STAGER and HOME INSPECTOR) Everyone knows 2007 was a tough year to sell a home and 2008 may be just as tough. With thousands more homes on the market than usual it is harder than ever to make a home that is for sale stand out. And it is really hard to get your asking price! There are plenty of reminders of what to do to get your home ready for sale. The list usually looks as follows: De-Clutter De-Personalize Spruce up the Front Entry Paint and Caulk Where Necessary Clean, Clean, Clean! Listen to Your Realtor The previous … (0 comments)
tennessee: Question: How much does a Commercial Inspection cost?
- 01/27/08 03:48 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)
tennessee: Question: What services are available for a Commercial Building Inspection?
- 01/27/08 03:46 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)
tennessee: Question: How long will a Commercial Building Inspection take?
- 01/27/08 03:45 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)
tennessee: Question: Are the rules and standards for a Home Inspection different than the rules and standards for a Commercial Inspection?
- 01/27/08 03:42 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 Tennessee, Home Inspectors are licensed by the State and standards are set for Home Inspections. Commercial Building Inspections are no longer regulated by the State of Tennessee. … (0 comments)
tennessee: Question: What is the difference between a Home Inspection and a Commercial Building Inspection?
- 01/27/08 03:40 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. On the other hand, a 50 unit apartment building is a Commercial Building in the sense of an Inspection. The gray area is something like a 10 unit townhouse complex. Each townhouse is normally owned and occupied by an individual owner. An Inspection of an individual townhouse unit is normally … (0 comments)
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.;)
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