How “Green” of an agent are you, and are you helping your clients save Energy? - 01/26/12 01:48 PM
The Real Estate Agent is the go to person for many buyers. The agent helps line everything up from a lender to the title company. I see more agents using the term Green and more people wanting to be Green. Electronic signing of documents saves paper and ink but is this really all that big of a deal?
One of the best ways to be Green is to save energy. I’m talking about more than just new light bulbs. I’m talking about 10%-30% energy savings. I know this sounds expensive, and it is expensive. Energy improvements are the only home improvement you … (0 comments)

Calling the Home Inspector an Idiot can cost you $50,000. - 01/23/12 11:56 AM
 
 
We have all been unhappy with a service provided to us at one time or another. This article in Journal Star is a case where a Real Estate agent sent out an e-mail to 400 colleagues with a comment that the Home Inspector was a “Total Idiot”. That comment cost the Home Inspector an estimated $50,000 in business. He felt that the agent thought he was “overly critical”.  The Home Inspector asked for a retraction and formal apology from the agent. Since he didn’t get what he asked for the Home Inspector from Lincoln Nebraska sued and filed a … (6 comments)

This Hobbit House in Verdi is awesome. I would like to inspect it but I would really love to live in it. - 01/19/12 11:27 PM
While browsing the web I noticed the words "Hobbit House", since it got my attention I had to look. I was surprised to see a house listing make the news. This is no average listing. It's a beautiful house in Verdi, a 6,600, 3.7 million Hobbit House. According to the article it was built to look like it came out of the mountains of Austria. The pictures show some amazing details. I particularly like the wood brackets in the corner of the bedroom and the arched timber frame trusses in the grand hall. It's not every day you see a house … (2 comments)

You Want the Best You Got the Best the Hottest Band in the World! KISS mini golf - 01/18/12 12:00 AM
Gene Simmons and the guys of KISS are at it again. A band that is well known for putting their brand on just about everything now brings their brand to Las Vegas. Craziness and costumes fit right into Sin City. Mini golf company Monster is opening up their newest mini golf in Las Vegas and it will be KISS themed. The opening date is March 15th at 4501 Paradise across from Hard Rock Hotel. 
 
 
This will not be your normal mini golf. It will be an indoor (great for those hot Vegas days) 18 hole mini golf. Mini golf will not … (1 comments)

A snowless Home Inspection in South Lake Tahoe in the middle of January! What? - 01/15/12 06:56 PM
 I could not imagine doing a Home Inspection in January in South Lake Tahoe with no snow. Well if all stays the same I will be doing one this week. Normally this time of year when inspecting homes at high altitude I would not be able to see the roof or parts of the foundation and usually none of the ground. I would also be on the lookout for signs of ice damming. While this maybe the norm it won't be this time. 

Well this January there will be full visibility due to the unusual weather. There is a possibly even a … (0 comments)

Friends(Agents) don't let Friends(Buyers) hire cheap Inspectors. - 01/14/12 02:46 PM
It seems with the drop in house prices buyers are looking for the cheap inspector in town. I've been getting more and more calls from people shopping around for price. I'm one of the few inspectors I know that advertise my prices. About 90% of the time people are looking for the price and not the best inspector. This is bad, bad, bad. When I hear the line "I'm just calling around to see what the prices are" I explain that I'm not the cheapest but you get what you pay for with me. I also tell them if they would … (2 comments)

Are buyers willing to pay $1000 for a Home Inspection and remove the Agent from the process? Mike Holmes thinks they should. - 01/12/12 03:03 PM
Anyone that watches HGTV has probably watched famous Contractor Mike Holmes from the shows Holmes on Homes and Holmes Inspection. I often enjoy the shows but like many contractors and home inspectors I don’t totally agree with everything on the show but I do agree with some statements from a recent interiview with Mike Holmes. I agree that what appear to be obvious defects that are missed. The Home Inspection process is a visual non-intrusive, not technically exhaustive inspection. The inspector is to give his opinion of the visible condition of the home at that day and time. We don’t have the luxury of … (9 comments)

Simple doable tips to save a few $$$ on energy. - 01/10/12 10:22 PM
We have been lucky enough to not have a very cold winter but it is never a bad time to save some energy. Hot water is an area you can save some easy money.
Heating water accounts for 14%-25% of the energy used in a home. The average gas fired tank water heaters found in most homes are about 55-70% efficient and electric ones are around 90%. While being more efficient electricity is more expensive than the fuel. 
There are some easy ways to save that the average person can tackle. One well known thing to do is insulate the tank. … (5 comments)

Tried a Restaurant in Henderson on my last trip and was glad I did. - 01/06/12 12:37 AM
On a previous trip down to Las Vegas I decided to have dinner at a place in Henderson that I heard about.  I've been to Henderson before but have stuck to the major Casinos this time I went off the beaten path to more of a locals place and I'm glad I did.
Form the outside it didn't look like I thought it would. In fact I though at first I was at the wrong place. I went inside and was surprised with what I saw. The inside was decorated in a lodge style decor which is pretty popular here in Northern Nevada so I felt right … (4 comments)

Two Inspections two dogs. Maybe I need a extra charge for dogs. - 01/05/12 11:47 PM
I had two inspections on the same day that. The weird thing is that both were short sales, both were split levels and both had dogs.
The first house I arrived to was at 8 am. The buyers agent let me in and said the dog was in the garage since it was so cold out. He said the dog was friendly once he got to know you. I'm a dog owner and pretty good with dogs. When it was time to inspect the garage I opened the door to the garage. I then spent about 5 min trying to get the dog to stop barking and growling … (6 comments)

Do you know if your oven Temperature is right? - 01/03/12 02:44 PM
As part of the requirements set by Nevada for Home Inspectors I'm required to check built-in appliances. This includes Ovens and Ranges. What that actually means is up for interpretation by the inspector. Many turn on the oven and see if it gets warm. If it's warm it must be working, right? Not exactly.
Checking an ovens ability to cook properly is beyond the score of a Home Inspection but with a simple laser thermometer an Inspector like myself can get enough information to give the customer an educated report to it's operating condition. Ovens can get warm and not get hot. … (0 comments)

 
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Rob Ernst- Reno, NV 775-342-4767 Home Inspector & Energy Auditor

Reno, NV

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Certified Structure Inspector

Address: 9732 Pyramid Hwy #149, Sparks, NV, 89441

Office Phone: (775) 342-4767

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