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atlanta home inspector: Inspector on the Loose Inside a Theme Park - 01/04/12 10:38 PM
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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 … (4 comments)
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atlanta home inspector: For a Toilet Tank Surprise, Inspector Should Opt to "Lift the Lid" - 11/07/11 04:38 PM
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 … (8 comments)
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atlanta home inspector: Shower Head Surprise - 10/31/11 09:48 AM
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.
… (13 comments)
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atlanta home inspector: January is National Radon Action Month - 01/06/11 03:52 PM
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
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atlanta home inspector: Who should be taking the lead for educating first-time homebuyers? - 12/26/10 02:17 PM
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 … (44 comments)
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atlanta home inspector: Great Balls of Fire! - 04/10/10 10:37 PM
No, this was not a screen shot of Mike Rowe's episode of Dirty Jobs where he washes T-shirts in a mixture of volanic ash & mud. This picture is of a dryer that caught fire.
Yesterday, my fun-loving customer was sharing a story about a relative that had a dryer fire. She said a window below the vent was open and a fireball that shot out of the vent entered through the open window below. Kewl!, I thought.
After that story, I showed her the screen I removed from the dryer vent in her prospective home. The screen should not have been left in … (9 comments)
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atlanta home inspector: Too Cold at Home - 01/10/10 08:28 AM
Songs and their lyrics often permeate my thoughts. Take for example, the Mark Chestnut song "Too Cold at Home" http://popup.lala.com/popup/432627047846394812 With a Home Depot gift card in the wallet, I purchased supplies to insulate and seal around the pull-down stairs, doors, plumbing penetrations and elsewhere. The area that remains cold is at the front of the fireplace. Outside temp was 22 this morning and the surface temperature of the front of the fireplace was 49 degrees. Interior walls were 68 degrees.
As you can see, I still have not come up with an aesthetically pleasing solution. The black borders above and below the glass doors are actually stick on magnets I purchased … (7 comments)
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atlanta home inspector: Where does stolen HVAC equipment end up? - 12/19/09 07:46 AM
Well, I think they either go to the recyling center or they find another home. Homes often have newer replacement central heating and cooling units installed. Sometimes, they appear legitimate and sometimes not. Perhaps the installation of the equipment has been installed in speedy fashion and the equipment has been banged up a little. So, what do you surmise and then convey to the client when you have made the above observations. When the nameplates on newer systems have been removed, it's almost a dead giveaway, right? Or, could they have just fallen off? Assuming the role of a CSI "Home Inspection" Edition, what do you deduce and what should you report?
… (9 comments)
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atlanta home inspector: A rare day off. What to do on AR? - 11/25/09 03:08 PM
If you ask my wife, we are both happy when my inspection schedule is close to full. The day before Thanksgiving and am thinking about what I need to do to reach more referring entities (i.e. Realtors) for 2010. It's important for any peripheral service providers including home inspectors to maintain their existing relationships, but at the same time to reach out to other untapped sources of referrals.
So... I began anew by performing an update on my AR profile along with a new avatar. The carrot was the extra bonus points! For obvious reasons, I decided to have a new photo taken before the Thanksgiving … (2 comments)
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Hank Spinnler, Atlanta Home Inspector
Hoschton,
GA
More about me…
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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