One very small but important item that is included in every inspection is the dryer vent. Every year fires are started from a lack of maintenance with this particular item. Some people feel that cleaning the lint screen is sufficient. This is far from correct. The actual vent that leads to the outside is where most blockages occur. This happens when the moist warm air from your dryer escapes with lint from the clothing. The damp lint is in perfect condition to stick to the walls of the vent pipe and eventually itself which deters proper venting. Several industry leaders recommend installing a rigid metal pipe instead of the accordion plastic or foil vents to allow lint to pass more freely. This will help, but a periodic cleaning is recommended. There are numerous companies that will do this service for you; however a dryer cleaning kit is only around $20 and is fairly simple to use.

Now that the heating season is approaching several areas of concern arise. The main one being carbon monoxide exposure. The best way to approach this potential problem is by having your fuel burning heat source serviced at least once a year. This service should not only be for cleaning, but also determine proper operation and a carbon monoxide test should be performed. This service is offered by many local HVAC contractors and is rather inexpensive for having proactive maintenance to your system.

Carbon Monoxide has many hidden dangers to a persons' health. For this reason alone I am offering carbon monoxide testing at a reduced cost for any client that purchases a home inspection package.

Carbon monoxide links

FAQ'S

Protecting your Family

A recent inspection revealed that some people just don't want to sell their house. Many times people say "inspectors are deal breakers". Some cases this may be true, but I have never had a house let me down when it comes time for a deal to fall apart. The inspection a few days ago was a perfect example. The owner decided that after the house went under contract that he was going to remodel the bath room and began to demolish away. The only problem--- he didn't have the desire to finish. One full bath-now not functional. We proceeded to the basement where in a bedroom closet (which shouldn't have been a bedroom anyway) mold was half way up the walls. I guess the clothes on the floor was supposed to cover it and the sweater that was no part of the wall via the mold provided good cover as well. If you wish to sell your home, please remedy any problems that you are aware of or disclose appropriately. Like I stated before the house does a great job of killing the deal on its own...

www.careyinspectpa.com

Several real estate professionals that I work along side of (inspectors, agents, mortagage brokers, etc.) have seen an increase in commercial property inspections and a decrease in the individuals that are willing to take them on. In the last year I have grown to take on these inspections, and am glad that I did. Many of these inspections are on a small scale and are on the same size as an average house inspection (1200-2000 sq ft). On several occasions for larger projects (over 5000sqft) I have included the use of an electrician, commercial HVAC tech and ADA compliance consultant.

The reports are detalied and the scope of work can be tailored to whatever the client wants evaluated. On some occasions the utilization of experts comes in to play and is of great benefit to my client. I have never met a client that was unhappy with an extra set of eyes at no extra charge!!

Recent issues have arose in the recall of a very popular smoke alarm. The Kidde Dual Sensor Smoke Alarm have been recalled with manufacture dates of August 1, 2008 through May 2009. If someone is in possession of this particular model the you may contact Kidde for an immediate replacement.

Link to CPSC website

One misconception is that as long as the batteries are changed then smoke alarms are in good working order. This is not true as most smoke alarms only have a shelf life of 8-10 years and should be replaced before hand. A good piece of advice is to change them whenever purchasing a new property and upgrading to a combo smoke/ Carbon monoxide detector. Below are some links that you can pass on to your clients.

Smoke Alarm Placement

Residential Sprinklers

When will it stop raining in Northeast PA???

One thing that I have noticed over the last two months has been an increasingly high number of wet basements. Obviously this is a direct result of the daily thunderstorms and drenching rains. In most cases this situation can be avoided with some very simple fixes. There are two main culprits involved in most of these situations. Rain gutters and grading. Downspouts should extend at least 10 feet away from the home in order to keep the water away from the foundation. The grading of the property is also a key factor. The landscape that looks so very nice must be pitched away from the house to eliminate a soggy situation. Many times simple landscaping can be done to alleviate this issue. The picture at the right is a good example. Downspouts need extending and grading is pitched into the home. The result is a pushed stone foundation that is unstable and is in need of repair. In most cases attention to the small details can save a lot of money down the road!!

After several requests we now offer mold sampling as an added service. All samples that are taken will be analyzed at an accredited facility and a generated report will follow within a few days. Pricing will start at $75.00 for clients that are also purchasing an inspection and $125.00 for individual cases per tape sample taken.

Keep in mind that my company also offers water analysis (Total Coliform Bacteria, FHA/VA, and Full Chemical), Septic evaluations, Wood Destroying Insect Inspections and Commercial Inspections as well.

Our commercial inspections are the best in the area and can be customized to the needs of any client. As always a professional report will be given within 1 day of the inspection to ensure avoiding any delays.

Around 2004 several factors led to the purchasing of drywall that was not manufactured in this country. The building surge in the early part of this decade along with the devastation from hurricanes the like of Katrina led to shortages of drywall manufactured here. The result was thousands of new homes built with drywall imported from China and other countries that did not meet our standards. Several homeowners immediately noticed a foul sulfur smell in their homes along with discoloration of any metal components in their home (air conditioners, etc). The result was metal corroding gases in the drywall were effecting the components of the home along with the residents' health with respiratory issues. Many people believe that this problem is isolated to states like Florida. This is not the case as it has been found as north as Ohio. Please take precautions when building or remodeling.

Home inspectors have evolved over the years to add ancillary items to their portfolio of services offered. Common services added were pest inspections, mold, radon, etc. In my area more recent attention has also been drawn to Carbon Monoxide testing. Carbon monoxide is a gas that can be deadly if high amounts are present. This potentially poisonous gas can be found whenever a fuel source is burned (wood, gas, oil, etc.) and installation is not properly exhibited. Given the climate that we are in, burning fuel is a common place. I have decided to add this service at no extra charge whenever someone purchases a complete home inspection package at regular price. I will also offer this service individually at a set price. Please make everyone that you know aware of the dangers of CO.

Seller inspections (sometimes referred to as pre-listing inspections) are becoming more popular because they virtually eliminate all the pitfalls and hassles associated with waiting to do the inspections until a buyer is found.  In many ways, waiting to schedule inspections until after a home goes under agreement, is too late.  Seller inspections are arranged and paid for by the seller, usually just before the home goes on the market.  The seller is my client.  I work for the seller and generate a report for the seller.  The seller then typically makes multiple copies of the report and shares them with potential buyers that tour the home for sale.  Seller inspections are a benefit to all parties in a real estate transaction. It also is a valuable marketing tool for anyone that is looking for an edge in this competitive and oversaturated market. Whether the client would like a report or a basic walkthrough, seller inspections are a diversified tool that will set your listing apart from the rest!