Brought to you by our friends in the construction and "home improvement" business. I wonder where their PPE is and did they fill out a TSA form? They are working on a home near you!
Some recent photos of issues I am finding when inspecting new construction. Large home builders Houston, TX area, mainly Katy. Please get your new home inspected! Enjoy
Folks please get your new construction home inspected! Preferably through all the phases. Probably half my business is doing inspections on newly built homes. The builder will not protect you, the state will not protect you, and the city will not protect you.
Here in Houston I see all kinds of crazy workmanship issues which has very little to do with "code." They throw these things up as fast as possible with little regard to what they are doing. Insulation not covering the proper square footage in the attic, TechShield radiant barrier not installed everywhere it is supposed to be, bricks on the sides of homes hanging on for dear life with 1/4 inch on the brick ledge because they mispoured or misframed. I see stuff all the time.
Interesting twist on credit scoring for buying a home.
Equifax Inc. (EFX.N: Quote, Profile, Research), Experian and TransUnion LLC, a unit of Britain’s GUS Plc (GUS.L: Quote, Profile, Research), in a statement said they adopted the “VantageScore” in response to “market demand for a more consistent and objective approach to credit scoring.” In the past, the agencies used their own formulas to gauge credit-worthiness. This created the possibility of widely varying scores, which could complicate consumers’ ability to obtain credit cards, auto loans, mortgages or other financing. Many lenders now use “FICO” scores, named for Fair Isaac Corp. (FIC.N: Quote, Profile, Research), which developed software used to generate them. The VantageScores will range from 501 to 990, compared with the current 350 to 850 range. Higher scores will still indicate greater levels of credit-worthiness, possibly leading to lower interest rates and better borrowing terms. via Reuters.com
Jeffrey IonHomeInspection.com Katy, Houston, Sugar Land
Electrical: Service Equipment, Wiring, Sub Panels, Light Fixtures, Ceiling Fans, Switches & Receptacles, GFCI Breakers
Exterior: Foundation, Siding and Trim, Attached Decks & Porches, Soffit and Fascia, Flashing, Windows & Doors, Driveways and Entrance Walkways, Grading Around the House
Garage: Floor, Walls, Ceilings, Vehicle Doors and Automatic Door Openers
Heat & A/C: Air Conditioning and Heat Pump Equipment, Electrical Supply, Air Handler and Furnace Equipment, Condenser and Evaporator Coils, Condensate Drain, Supply and Return Ducting
Interior: Walls, Floors, Ceilings, Windows and Doors, Fireplaces, Stairways
The home and owner should be set-up for an inspection.
Access to all areas of the home to be inspected. Attics, electric panels, crawl spaces, heaters, A/C’s, water heaters, and garages etc.
All utilities should be turned on.
All appliances and HVAC systems should be ready to operate. Pilot lights lit.A/C unit should have power to it for at least 24 hours prior to an inspection.
Common Misconceptions About Home Inspections:
Clients need to understand that there are limitations to any home inspection.As hard as we try we cannot see through walls, see under the flooring, see under the ground, predict what will happen in the future, or tell you how long something will last. Home inspections are a visual evaluation of the home, lasting only a few hours, and are not intended to be technically exhaustive.
Inspections are not building code compliance tests.
The home inspection process is different from a home appraisal.
Home inspections are not an extensive evaluation of any biological or environmental hazards.
Inspectors and Realtors that go into attics and other dark places around homes should be aware of one of the most dangerous spiders in the country, the Brown Recluse Spider. When working in these areas you should wear heavy gloves and other protective clothing. These spiders love dark places like attics, sheds, and woodpiles where people usually are not around. It would be a wise SOP to turn on the attic light at least 30 minutes before entering the attic. This is not me thank goodness!
WARNING! These pictures are not for the squeamish.
I came across this Federal Pacific Electric Panel the other day on a home inspection. This panel has since been replaced.
This electric panel was a complete and total disaster. Lots of "handy man" additions on top of a dangerous and obsolete panel. The Federal Pacific company is no longer in business. The main issue with FPE panels is that they usually work fine until an overload of the circuits occurs and the breakers do not trip as designed and overheating of the panel and circuits occurs which can result in a house fire. We always recommend doing some further research on FPE panels if you remotely think your home or one of your listings has an FPE panel. If you are unsure what you may have you should get an evaluation of your electric system by a licensed home inspector or licensed electrician. FPE Stab-Lok electrical panels should be immediately replaced. Do not simply change out the breakers! Also, from personal experience, the Houston metro region is saturated with these panels, please have your panels checked out!
One disturbing trend among builders and home owners in the Houston region is the lack of attention to the grading and adequate exposure of the foundation face. This is a particular concern as Houston has expansive clay soil. Clay soil is sensitive to that amount of moisture that it is exposed to and expands and contracts accordingly. This can wreak havoc on foundations. High soil against the foundation is also an open invitation to ants and termites. It also prohibits you from seeing any issues with your foundation before it causes major damage to your home. The best time to catch these issues is when the builder is still working on the grading of the home before installation of sod and beds.
The following photos are from a new construction final phase inspection.
If you go to this web site, www.letssaythanks.com, you can pick out a thank you card and Xerox will print it and it will be sent to a soldier that is currently serving in Iraq. You can't pick out who gets it, but it will go to some member of the armed services.
How AMAZING it would be if we could get everyone we know to send one!!! This is a great site.
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