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I recently enjoyed some fun in the sun over the holidays in central Florida. I really tried to leave my inspector hat at home and enjoy time with my family, however, the lines for some of the rides forced me to slow down and observe my surroundings.
Trying not to be too critical of things and knowing that the chances of some type of mechanical mishap while I was there were between slim & none, I could not help but notice a few things.
This picture shows a square shaped concrete footing or "footer" as some refer to it. This footing was located beneath stairs to a wooden roller coaster ride.
There is a 4"x4" post placed right on the edge of the footing. Instead, the post should have been installed with the post bracket placed dead-center of the footing. Otherwise, the footing could tilt or worse, fail due to the load placed on top of it.
The "Inspection Photo" below is from an attraction featuring boats that navigate through a water canal and between docks. The weatherproof covers for the GFCI protected outlets have been knocked off or are missing. They should be there to protect from accidental splashing of water into the outlets.
Would you like me to inspect your local theme park to make sure it's safe for you and your family? Otherwise, do you need an inspection of a residential or commercial property? Visit me at: www.HarmonyInspection.com
It's just part of the inspection routine to inspect the insides of toilet tanks. Typical findings include plumes of rust and corrosion on the tank bolts or some type of a jerry-rigged link between a flushing handle and a flapper.
While in the home stretch on this inspection, which was clean vacant home, I found this little guy or girl. Which sex it was I'm not qualified to determine. This GA gray tree frog did not move a muscle. I hope the new owners leave him alone. The little cut-out in the back of the tank allows it to come and go with the lid on.
 
If you happen to need a home inspector in GA, don't hesitate to contact me directly.
The ubiquitous shower head. I sometimes let my guard down and momentarily forget some of the lessons I've learned while inspecting homes. Here's what I am referring to:
I try to remember to first look up at the shower head before turning on the shower. In the above instance, I had my camera on and ready because these heads with extended shower arms often leak.
Otherwise, it's all too easy to spray surrounding walls, floors, ceilings, and body parts. The fix is usually easy, but sometimes they simply need to be replaced.
Feel free to share a memorable account of a time when you got soaked.
Former home of heavy chain smokers with at least one child living there. Reusable filters, unfortunately, have to be washed once a month. Not every 3 months as this guy reasoned. This one was never cleaned anyway. Black tar coats the filter.
Home Inspector Glen Fisher of South Jersey nailed this one when he described the condition of many of these Fannie Mae properties. I always know when I've entered one of these homes because of the ample numbers of flyers placed on the counters and the Sharpie dated Renuzit style air fresheners. Via Glen Fisher (National Property Inspections of Southern New Jersey, LLC):
I hope most Americans are aware of the financial troubles of Fannie Mae and the questionable practice of the Federal Government backing Fannie Mae losses with taxpayer dollars. And I am sure that many Americans are aware that Fannie Mae owns thousands of recently foreclosed homes that have and are being placed on the real estate market for resale.
Having performed home inspections in southern New Jersey on countless foreclosed homes, I am well educated in the typical condition of these properties. In short, most foreclosures have serious defects.
It is not unusual for a foreclosed property to have been vacant for a year or more with no heat or air conditioning, allowing moisture to accumulate in the home in addition to permitting water pipes to freeze and burst. Due to the above, substantial mold growth is very common in these troubled properties.
The situation that has created the foreclosure is almost always lack of funds. The lack of funds conduce a state of little or no maintenance for a long period prior to the abandonment or eviction from the home. In addition, occasionally the prior homeowner is frustrated by the inevitable loss of the home and will sabotage it prior to leaving. Sabotage often includes disconnecting a drain pipe under a sink and leaving the faucet operating. I have witnessed other types of sabotage more extreme than water, but I will leave that to the reader's imagination.
The above circumstances result in Fannie Mae acquiring foreclosed homes in a distressed condition. That is not Fannie Mae's fault. What happens next is. Fannie Mae performs no credible home inspection to determine the condition of the home. Fannie Mae will provide winterization in the colder parts of the country and will review the home for improvements to enhance marketability. But most often these improvements are only cosmetic and nothing more than a calculated deception by Fannie Mae to masquerade the home's true condition.
For example, a Fannie Mae foreclosed home that I recently inspected showed new carpet, fresh paint and replacement toilet tank covers (that did not properly fit any of the toilets). Further, new kitchen appliances were on-site waiting to be installed. To an inexperienced homebuyer the house appeared to be move-in ready. 
Not so fast. My inspection revealed a major mold problem, a suspected illegal addition, dangerous electrical wiring, a faulty furnace, plumbing problems and a severely rotted deck in addition to numerous other issues. While this home inspection proved to be very valuable to the purchasers, they were taken by surprise by the number and severity of the issues.
Unfortunately, not all buyers will insist on a home inspection and a small percentage of ethically-challenged real estate agents will discourage professional home inspections of Fannie Mae properties and similar homes. They do so by making statements such as "the property is being sold as is" and "an inspection can be used for information purposes only". While these statements can be accurate, the result often intended is to create an illusion to a homebuyer that paying for a home inspection is a waste of money.
Aside from performing essential repairs to a home's roof, structure or systems, I strongly recommend that Fannie Mae sell the foreclosed property "as acquired" with no cosmetic work performed. In my opinion, this will help to curtail the dubious practices of Fannie Mae, the mistress of deception.
Glen Fisher southjerseynpi@aol.com
"The South Jersey Home Inspector"
According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, January is National Radon Action Month. You can obtain low-cost test kits locally or hire a radon professional to test. In a real estate transaction, the EPA recommends hiring a qualified professional to conduct the test. It's a sure way to obtain accurate results within your due diligence period. According to the EPA, Radon is the leading cause of lung cancer among non-smokers.
You can verify that your radon testing contractor is certified through the National Environmental Health Association (NEHA-NRPP) by selecting your state here: http://www.radongas.org/radon_measurement_service.shtml#search
This is an informal poll. Opinions appreciated. I was just finishing up a home inspection on a new construction home a few days before Christmas. A young couple walked up to the on-site builder and asked him if they could take a look at a home across the street.
Since my job was complete, I seized the opportunity to walk up to them and introduce myself. I told them I was in the neighborhood for a client who hired me to inspect their new home. The young woman's reply was: "I didn't realize you need to get a new home inspected."
I am certain that today more people comprehend the importance of an inspection whether the home is a re-sale or if it is new construction. Unfortunately, these folks didn't get the memo.
Inspector associations like ASHI admit they don't have the marketing dollars for radio or TV public service announcement spots. I would think a powerful group like the NAR would, but they are going to focus on a macro approach which is to sell more homes.
So, who should be educating these uninformed consumers? I think the answer is each of us. Whether your a Realtor, an inspector, or someone who has benefited from the services of a home inspector.
Feel free to check out a sample inspection report if you would like to find out more about inspections and new homes.
In many instances, new decks can take the load off the amount of reporting that's required. For years, deck builders in metro Atlanta Georgia have been making the same mistakes when it comes to methods of ledger board attachment. Mistakes that include missing flashing, incorrect attachment of ledger boards and direct attachment to cantilevered overhangs including bay windows.
Per code, the deck ledger should not be attached and supported by fasteners through brick veneer. Brick veneer is a wall cladding. It is not intended to support loads and it can crack. Instead, the deck attached to homes with brick veneer should be built as "free-standing" which means supported independent of the wall cladding.
A preview of a new construction home I will be inspecting this week provided some confidence in the workmanship of the sub-contractor. The ledger has continuous flashing (the exposed metal located above the ledger and below the deck board against the wall), metal joist hangers, diagonal bracing, and 6"x6" posts beneath the ledger boards. There will be a small recommendation, but it pertains to the attachment of the guard railing posts on the top side (not pictured).
Any past client or Realtor who has ever received an on-line inspection report from me can access it if they wish to via a secure password protected website. This is true for all home reports over the past 7 years.
My observation is is that once the transaction is complete, few return to review it. It could be a useful reference to review the past recommendations for repairs and maintenance.
If you have questions about home inspections or reports, contact Atlanta Home Inspector Hank Spinnler:
Harmony Home Inspection Services
www.HarmonyInspection.com
Cell 770-235-5793
Fax 1-888-351-6229
hankspinnler@gmail.com
ASHI Certified Inspector #243308
ICC Residential Combination Inspector #5228491-R5
NEHA/NRPP Radon Measurement Provider #103595RT
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Home Inspections Atlanta, Home Inspections in GA, Georgia Home Inspectors, Home Inspectors in GA
Cavemen contractors used primitive tools to notch an opening in the osb roof sheathing at the ridge peak:  
Using a circular saw instead of a claw hammer to create an even nailing line for installation of the ridge vent was unecessary I suppose.
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Hank Spinnler, Atlanta Home Inspector
Hoschton,
GA
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Harmony Home Inspection Services of GA
Address: Atlanta Georgia Home Inspector, Home Inspectors Atlanta, Hoschton, GA, 30548
Office Phone: (770) 235-5793
Cell Phone: (770) 235-5793
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