Many times we here: "That's a lot of money for only a few hours work!" As more and more home inspectors use time-saving, report generating software, include pictures (worth a thousand words) and even generate their reports on-site, they also start to make it look easy. I recently ran across a version of the story in How to Become a Marketing Superstar, a book by Jeffrey J. Fox. Anyway, the story goes as follows: That's a lot of money for only a few hours work!
Pablo Picasso, the painter, was dining at a restaurant in New York City. A fan introduced herself to him and gushed at how thrilled she was to meet the great artist and how she loved his work. Encouraged by Mr. Picasso's polite acceptance, the fan begged, "Oh, Mr. Picasso, would you draw me a sketch?" Picasso grabbed some paper, and with a pen, promptly sketched the waiters passing parfaits. As the woman reached for the sketch, Pablo Picasso said, "Madame. That will be $10,000." Shocked, she replied, "But that only took you 5 minutes.""No Madame," replied Picasso, "it took me 50 years."
Picasso priced his service to its value, not to the cost of manufacture. Picasso did not price his service based on the cost of the paper plus the cost of ink plus some hourly wage... and nor should a home inspector.
"You get what you pay for.........
For more information relative to professional a home inspection visit: HOMEINSPECTORUSA
"panama city beach, panama city, santa rosa beach, seagrove beach, seacrest beach, rosemary beach, grayton beach, seaside, destin, sandestin, watercolor, alys beach, wild heron, crystal beach, carillon beach, callaway, lynn haven, springfield, gainesville and surrounding cities"3 Deadly Mistakes Every Home Buyer should avoid
Deadly Mistake #1: Thinking you can't afford it.Today, buying the home of your dreams is easier than ever before. Many people who thought that buying the home they wanted was simply out of their reach are now enjoying a new lifestyle in their very own new home. Buying a home is the smartest financial decision you will ever make. In fact, most American and Canadian homeowners would be financially broke at retirement if it weren't for one saving grace - the equity in their home. Furthermore, mortgage rates are more flexible today than ever and tax allowances favor home ownership. Real estate values have always risen steadily. Of course there are peaks and valleys, but the long term the trend is a consistent increase. This means that every month when you make a mortgage payment the amount that you owe on the home goes down and the value typically increases. This "owe less-worth more" situation is called equity build-up and is the reason you can't afford not to buy.
Even if you have little money for a down payment or credit problems, chances are that you can still buy that new home. It just comes down to knowing the right strategies, and working with the right people. See below.
Deadly Mistake #2: Not hiring a buyer's agent to represent you.Buying property is a complex and stressful task. In fact, it is often the biggest single investment you will make in your lifetime. At the same time, real estate transactions have become increasingly complicated. New technology, laws, procedures and competition from other buyers require buyer agents to perform at an ever-increasing level of professionalism. For many homebuyers, the process turns into a terrible, stressful ordeal. In addition, making the wrong decisions can end up costing you thousands of dollars. It does not have to be this way! Work with a buyer's agent who has a keen understanding of the real estate business and who is on your side. Buyer's agents have a fiduciary duty to you. That means they are loyal to only you and are obligated to look out for your best interests. Buyer's agents can help you find the best home, the best lender and the best inspector. Best of all, in most cases, the buyer's agent is paid out of the seller's commission, even though he/she works for you. Trying to buy a home without an agent at all is, well... unthinkable.
Deadly Mistake #3: Getting a cheap inspection. Buying a home is probably the most expensive purchase you will ever make. This is no time to shop for a cheap inspection. The cost of a home inspection is very small relative to the home being inspected. The additional cost of hiring a certified proffesional inspector is almost insignificant. As a homebuyer, you have recently been crunching the numbers, negotiating offers, adding up closing costs, shopping for mortgages and trying to get the best deals. Do not stop now. Do not let your real estate agent, a patty-cake inspector or anyone else talk you into skimping here. HOMEINSPECTORUSA is an independent professional home inspection company that cares only for his clients. Education, Experiance and Expertise set us apart from the average home inspector.
HOMEINSPECTORUSA inspectors perform the best inspections by far. We are degree engineers, Mold certified technicians with vast experience in residential & commercial construction and certified InterNACHI inspectors. InterNACHI certified inspectors do more, they deserve more, and yes they generally charge a little more. Do yourself a favor...and pay a little more for the quality inspection you deserve. Inspected Once, Inspected Right!
IT'S NOT NECESSARY TO LEAVE YOUR COMPUTER, SIMPLY "CLICK BELOW" AND SEND YOUR PHONE NUMBER TO MY CELL PHONE... I'LL CALL YOU WITHIN MINUTES.
If you want the best Home Inspectors and MOLD technicians serving the panhandle of Florida , HOMEINSPECTORUSA is your choice!
Molds are usually not a problem indoors, unless mold spores land on a wet or damp spot and begin growing. Molds have the potential to cause health problems. Molds produce allergens, irritants, and in some cases, potentially toxic substances.
Allergic reactions to mold are common and include hay fever-type symptoms, such as sneezing, runny nose, red eyes, and skin rash. Molds can also cause asthma attacks in people with asthma who are allergic to mold.The most common health problems caused by indoor mold are allergy symptoms. Although other and more serious problems can occur, people exposed to mold commonly report problems such as:
Nasal and sinus congestion
Cough Wheeze/breathing difficulties
Sore throat
Skin and eye irritation
Upper respiratory infections (including sinus)
Are the risks greater for some people?There is wide variability in how different people are affected by indoor mold. However, the long term presence of indoor mold growth may eventually become unhealthy for anyone. The following types of people may be affected more severely and sooner than others:
Infants and children
Elderly people
Individuals with respiratory conditions or sensitivities such as allergies and asthma
Persons having weakened immune systems (for example, people with HIV infection, chemotherapy patients, organ transplant recipients)
In some individuals, exposure to indoor mold can also can lead to asthma or to a lung disease resembling severe inflammatory asthma called allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis. This latter condition, which occurs only in a minority of people with asthma, is characterized by wheezing, low-grade fever, and coughing up of brown-flecked masses or mucus plugs. Skin testing, blood tests, X-rays, and examination of the sputum for fungi can help establish the diagnosis. Corticosteroid drugs are usually effective in treating this reaction; immunotherapy (allergy shots) is not helpful.
Fungi or microorganisms related to mold / fungi may cause other health problems similar to allergic diseases. Some kinds of Aspergillus may cause several different illnesses, including both infections and allergy. These fungi may lodge in the airways or a distant part of the lung and grow until they form a compact sphere known as a "fungus ball." In people with lung damage or serious underlying illnesses, Aspergillus may grasp the opportunity to invade the lungs or the whole body.Those with special health concerns should consult a medical professional if they feel their health is affected by indoor mold.
Choosing the right Certified Home, Commercial & Mold Inspector can be difficult. Unlike most professionals, you probably will not get to meet me until after you hire me.Different Home, Commercial & Mold Inspectors have varying qualifications, equipment, experience, reporting methods, and yes different pricing. One thing for sure is that a comprehensive visual Home Inspection requires work, a lot of work. Ultimately a thorough Home, Commercial & Mold Inspection depends heavily on the individual Inspector's qualifications and own effort. Our knowledge, experience, expertise, engineering background and construction (residential & commercial) set us apart from the average inspector.If you honor HOME INSPECTOR USA (HIUSA) by permitting us to visualy inspect your prospective home or property, we guarantee that we will give you our very best effort.
We at HOME INSPECTOR USA, we're committed to providing the highest level of professional service in the home inspection industry at competitive rates. HOME INSPECTOR USA programs conform to state, EPA, VA, HUD, InterNACHI and FHA standards. HOME INSPECTOR USA is the premier home inspection and mold inspection company in the area.We are renowned in our area for "ZERO" tolerance. We work for you!
Member of the National Association of Certified Home Inspectors (NACHI)
Member of Bay County Association of Realtors (BCAR)
Member of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME)
Member of Environmetal Solutions Association (ESA)
Member of Indoor Air Quality Association (IAQA) Member of Panama City
Member of the US Chamber of Commerce (USCC)
Member of PRO-LAB Professional Partners Program
Member of AARP
Member of Better Business Bureau (BBB) pending
Completed over 29 projects (single, multi-family, commercial & federal government construction projects) Bay County, USA & overseas.
Managed and Inspected large-scale federal government construction facilities from ground breaking to completion and outfitting.
46 years staff combined engineering experience, and expertise in construction, operations, system implementation and management of commercial and federal government projects (small & large).
Crawlspaces In many respects, crawlspace walls are just short basement walls. Exterior foam and foam-form insulation systems can be used. However, interior crawlspace wall insulation is usually either foam board or draped insulation. If foam insulation is used, it extends from the top of the foundation to the top of the footing. The cavity formed by the rim joist should be filled with fiberglass batts or a foam-in-place product. Most fire codes allow up to two inches of polystyrene exposed on the interior of a crawlspace before covering is required.
If crawlspaces are insulated with fiberglass or mineral wool batts, the batts are usually tacked to the sill plate and draped down and onto the floor. Four foot- wide batts incased in a plastic cover work well when installed horizontally. Conventional 16- or 24-inch-wide batts leave voids between the batts and do not perform as well.
Some jurisdictions require a ventilated crawlspace to help control moisture. Vent requirements are significantly reduced if the floor of the crawlspace is covered with plastic sheeting with joints overlapped and taped to reduce crawlspace moisture. If required, install operable vents so they can be closed. Don't forget to fill the rim joist space with fiberglass batt or foamed-in-place foam to complete the insulation treatment. The floor over the crawlspace can also be insulated. This raises the thermal envelope from the crawlspace walls to the space floor. While this technique offers many advantages, piping must be freeze proofed and heating and cooling ducts must also be insulated.
How do I know if MOLD is growing in my home? Should I get the MOLD tested to find out what kind it is?If you can smell a musty odor or see mold, you have a mold problem. Reliable sampling for mold can be expensive since it requires special equipment and training. Testing is not generally recommended as a first step. HOME INSPECTOR USA offers free Mold screening when conducting a comprehensive home inspection. If there is an indication of active organic microbial present during the visual home inspection, the inspector will be recommending testing (Air, Bio-tape, or Swab) to determine the concentration of organic microbial spores present. This process will take several days since samples will have to be taken, cataloged, sealed and FedEx to a certified laboratory for analysis.
Now Remember: Molds are usually not a problem indoors, unless mold spores land on a humid or wet surface and begin growing. Molds have the potential to cause health problems. Mold produces allergens (substances that cause allergic reactions), irritants, and in some cases, potentially toxic substances (mycotoxins). Inhaling or touching mold or mold spores may cause allergic reactions in sensitive individuals. Allergic responses include hay fever-type symptoms, such as sneezing, runny nose, red eyes, and skin rash (dermatitis). Allergic reactions to mold are common. They can be immediate or delayed. Molds can also cause asthma attacks in people with asthma who are allergic to mold. In addition, mold exposure can irritate the eyes, skin, nose, throat, and lungs of both mold-allergic and non-allergic people. Symptoms other than the allergic and irritant types are not commonly reported as a result of inhaling mold.
No Home is Perfect:Keep things in perspective. Don't kill your deal over things that don't matter. It is inappropriate to demand that seller address deferred maintenance, conditions already listed on the seller's disclosure, or nit-picky items.
Buying a Home?Why you need a visual Comprehensive Home Inspection? The inspection is a visual analysis to detect major defects and deficiencies associated with the property on the time and day of the inspection. The process can be stressful. A Comprehensive visual Home Inspection is supposed to give you peace of mind, but often has the opposite effect. You will be asked to absorb a lot of information in a short period of time. This often includes a comprehensive written Home Inspection report, punch list, digital photographs, environmental reports, and what the Home Inspector himself says during the Home Inspection. All this combined with the seller's disclosure, county records, utility companies, appraisers, mortgage companies and what you notice yourself makes the experience even more overwhelming. What should you do?Relax:Most of your Home Inspection will be maintenance recommendations and minor imperfections. These are nice to know about. However, the issues that really matter will fall into four categories:
1. Major defects. An example of this would be a structural failure.
2. Things that lead to major defects. A small roof-flashing leak, for example.
3. Things that may hinder your ability to insure or occupy the home.
4. Safety hazards, such as an exposed live buss bar in the electric panel.
Anything in these categories should be addressed. Often a serious problem can be corrected inexpensively to protect both life and property (especially in categories 2 and 4). Most sellers are honest and are often surprised to learn of defects uncovered during the inspection. Realize that the sellers are under no obligation to repair everything mentioned in the Home Inspection report. The home inspection process is non-destructive, and is generally non-invasive. It is performed in this manner because, at the time we inspect the dwelling, you do not own the property. You cannot authorize the disassembly or destruction of what does not belong to you.
There are several water-heating options available to you. While you are taking steps to save on home heating, don't forget to see what you can do to lower your water heating costs. Check with your fuel supplier for more information, and consider alternatives to your current method.
Storage-type water heaters Most homes have storage-type water heaters in which water in a tank is heated by a gas or oil burner or by electric elements. Traditional storage heaters have been improved with such features as through-the-wall venting for combustion units and better insulation, making them less expensive to operate. Units designed to give even greater efficiency are now available.
Instantaneous water heaters Instantaneous water heaters which heat water as needed and have no storage tank are available, but not widely. They require little space, but they usually cost more than storage-type water heaters and more than one unit might be required to meet your needs. For electric instantaneous water heaters, upgraded wiring is often necessary.
Integrated (combination) hot water systems Systems that combine space heating and water heating are becoming more popular. Water can be heated with a boiler or a storage-tank water heater. The hot water can be used for space heating as well as domestic hot water needs. Space heating methods include baseboard radiators, in-floor radiant heating and forced air heating when piped to an air handler. Some of these systems can also be used for pool and spa heating and snow-melting applications. Combo systems vary widely in efficiency and must be carefully designed to give satisfactory service.
Solar water heaters In solar water heaters, energy from the sun is collected by solar panels and transferred by circulating fluids to a storage tank. These heaters are typically used with an electric water heater, or one fueled by oil, natural gas or propane, which acts as a back-up for overcast days. Solar collector panels can be mounted on any unobstructed roof, wall or ground frame that faces between southeast and southwest. Solar water heaters are designed to provide between 35 and 75% of your hot water needs, with the back-up providing the balance.
Two types of units cool an entire house: a central air conditioner or a heat pump. If you only need to cool a specific area, a window air conditioning unit could be your most energy-conserving choice. Regardless of what type you are considering, remember that models will vary in efficiency ratings and efficiency has a direct impact on operating costs, so optimizing efficiency should be a priority. Consider buying an ENERGY STAR®-qualified model. Central cooling If you decide you want to cool your entire house, you should consider which system to install - central air conditioning or a heat pump - when reviewing your home's heating needs. An air conditioner is actually a heat pump that can only cool. *Remember: your heating decisions can affect your cooling options. Duct work for central air Duct work is generally needed to carry cool air throughout the house in a central air conditioning system. If you have a forced air heating system you can usually use the same ducts for cooling. If you do not have duct work, you can look into installing it or consider air conditioning technologies that have been developed for homes without ducts. These alternatives are more costly, so if you are considering them, investigate your options with your heating/cooling contractor.
Mini splits Mini splits are systems suited to homes without a central air-distribution system. No duct work is required. The system consists of two components: an outdoor condensing unit, and an indoor evaporator and fan. The indoor section can frequently be mounted on any interior or exterior wall, and is much quieter than a window unit. Window units Window air conditioners are effective if you only need to cool a specific area of your home. They will cost less to install than a central air conditioning system. If you don't have duct work, they might be your most practical choice. It is important to match the capacity of the window air conditioner with the size of the area to be cooled. Window units should either be covered in winter or, better still, removed to minimize heat loss. Other Ways to Cool Your House The following measures will help keep your home more comfortable:
Install ceiling fans to circulate air.
If you're planning for the long term, plant trees that lose their leaves in the fall on the east, south and west side of your house.
Close the drapes or blinds on south and west-facing windows during sunny summer days to reduce heat gains.
Turn off lights and appliances when they are not in use.
Install awnings for patio doors and windows that face the sun.
We have all heard to set your water heater at 120 degrees Fahrenheit. But why? Temperatures above 120 degrees are great for washing dishes. Safety is the reason and high temperature water is a serious hazard. Following is information about how long it takes for high temperature water to produce severe 2nd and 3rd degree burns on adult skin:
· 160 degrees F. - about 1/2 second
· 150 degrees F. - about 1 1/2 seconds
· 140 degrees F. - less than 5 seconds
· 130 degrees F. - about 30 seconds
· 120 degrees F. - greater than 5 minutes
Children's skin is much more sensitive and will produce severe burns in less time. Excessive water temperature is a serious matter and a good home inspector will look for it. Unfortunately, the temperature setting can be changed at any time by anyone so you should check for yourself. Inexpensive thermometers can be purchased to test the delivery temperature at a tap nearest the water heater. We recommend never setting the water heater temperature above 130 degrees F., for any reason.
Sometimes we see homeowners set water heaters too high to compensate for an inadequately sized unit. Another reason folks justify an excessive temperature setting is when it takes a long time for the hot water to reach certain fixtures. Others just like the high temperature water. Solar water heaters are notorious for having excessively high delivery water because of missing, damaged or improperly set tempering valves. For this reason we suggest that solar water heaters be evaluated by a solar system expert at transfer of ownership and/or every two years. We also suggest you check your own delivery temperature today, especially if you have children. Maybe this will keep you out of hot water!
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Different Home, Commercial & Mold Inspectors have varying qualifications, equipment, experience, reporting methods, and yes different pricing. One thing for sure is that a comprehensive visual Home Inspection requires work, a lot of work. Ultimately a thorough Home, Commercial & Mold Inspection depends heavily on the individual Inspector's qualifications and own effort. Our knowledge, experience, expertise, engineering background and construction (residential & commercial) set us apart from the average inspector.
If you honor HOME INSPECTOR USA, LLC (HIUSA) by permitting us to inspect your prospective home or property, I guarantee that we will give you our very best effort.
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asthma attacks in people with asthma who are allergic to mold. The most common health problems caused by indoor mold are allergy symptoms. Although other and more serious problems can occur, people exposed to mold commonly report problems such as:
generally recommended as a first step. HOME INSPECTOR USA offers free Mold screening when conducting a comprehensive home inspection. If there is an indication of active organic microbial present during the visual home inspection, the inspector will be recommending testing (Air, Bio-tape, or Swab) to determine the concentration of organic microbial spores present. This process will take several days since samples will have to be taken, cataloged, sealed and FedEx to a certified laboratory for analysis.
Buying a Home? 
