With summer here your air handler is working extra hard to keep your home cool so don't make it work any harder. Clean or replace the filters at the unit and in the return vents. Yes you should have a filter in every return vent.

If you keep up with this your home will be cool as a cucumber. If you don't, expect a huge bill from the service tech. who has to pull the coil and clean it.

Your choice. $20 now or $300 plus later.

Have a safe summer.

Who must have an engineering certificate for their manufactured home foundation?

All foundation systems, new and existing, must meet the guidelines published in the Permanent Foundations Guide for Manufactured Housing, dated September 1996. A certification attesting to compliance with this handbook must be obtained from a licensed professional engineer and included in the insuring file. It is applicable for all re-sales.

HUD-FHA Single Family Housing, Homeownership Center Reference Guide
Revised October 31, 2005 Chapter 1 Appraisal and Property Requirements Page 1-09d

What does this mean?

It means that the foundation must meet the criteria as set forth in HUD manual Permanent Foundations Guide for Manufactured Housing, September 1996. This manual requires a site specific design for every manufactured home.

Dead loads, snow loads, wind loads and seismic loads must all be taken into account.

There must be a perimeter, frost line protected strip foundation as well as frost line protected piers under the chassis.

The stacked blocks that the unit actually sits on must not only be mortared, they must be attached with rebar to the footing and bolted and/or welded to the chassis frame, unless there is an alternate, site specific engineered design.

The design must include protection against horizontal shearing forces and uplifting forces. This can require additional strapping between the stacked blocks.

Finally, it means that this design must be stamped by a licensed professional engineer verifying that HUD requirements are met.

What can happen if a manufactured home does not have an HUD compliant foundation?

It is very likely that no US government guaranteed loan will be approved for the home.

It also may not qualify for other conventional loans.

Even though the home may currently qualify with a lesser foundation, in the future it may be required to upgrade to HUD compliance to receive any loan.

The homeowner may pay more in home insurance than necessary.

The design must include protection against horizontal shearing forces and uplifting forces. This can require additional strapping between the stacked blocks.

Finally, it means that this design must be stamped by a licensed professional engineer verifying that HUD requirements are met.

What difference does it make what kind of foundation I have under my manufactured home?

Different loans have different requirements for the foundation supporting the home. A minimal foundation can prevent your home from qualifying for a loan.

I'm knowledgeable about foundations and I know this house does not require what I'm told it needs. Why do I have to put it in?

Most manufactured homes in the past were placed on grade and sat on dry stacked cinder blocks and often no particular problems were noted. These more recent requirements for manufactured home foundations are based on national experience from manufactured housing performance in hurricanes, tornadoes and earthquakes.

When the government mandates these standards be met nationwide (there are local variations in requirements), they must be met. It is not a matter of what is needed here to support a manufactured home, it is a matter of what is required to qualify for a loan.

My manufactured home qualified for a loan before. Isn't it "grandfathered" in for future loans?

Unfortunately, no. Your current foundation may be adequate for your current loan, but new requirements must be met in order for a new loan to be issued. If it qualified for a loan previously, it may not now without the foundation being upgraded, which can be extremely expensive. HRES can provide a lower cost solution for upgrading deficient foundations to meet current government standards.

What is an HUD compliant foundation?

That is a foundation that meets the requirements of HUD manual Permanent Foundations Guide for Manufactured Housing published September 1996. It also has an Engineering Certificate stamped by a licensed engineer certifying that it meets those requirements.

If you need assistance with Manufactured Home Foundation Certificates for a HUD or FHA loan you can contact me at ivcohome@yahoo.com Certificates issued by Hayman Engineering.

Michael Ivie

Jalapeño peppers are great in the summer time, and there is no need to heat up the kitchen. Cook theses treats on the grill.

 you need ;

8-10 med. To large jalapeño peppers split down the side and seeded.

1 pack of cream cheese room temperature

2-3 cloves of fresh garlic

¼ cup of fresh cilantro

In a med. Bowl add the cream cheese

Peal, smash, and then chop the garlic and add to the cheese

Chop cilantro fine mix cheese, garlic, and cilantro together

Stuff the peppers

Chill peppers in the fridge for about 30 min.

Take a 1 lb. pack of hickory smoked bacon and cut it in half (thick slice is better)

Wrap each pepper with a slice of bacon and secure with a toothpick.

Grill over indirect heat with the lid closed until bacon is slightly crisp.

Remove the toothpicks and enjoy.

Have a great grillin summer

Here is a new twist to this. I know some of you can't live without grease so you can Dredge the peppers in self-rising flour and deep fry.

ivcohome@yahoo.com
http://www.ivcoinspectionservice.com

I am very glad I found Active Rain. I find a wealth of information here and it's a good place to share ideas with people around the United states.

But I am disappointed with the showing from my home town or should I say county. Only 18 real estate professionals  have joined thus far plus myself ( the only inspector) and out of the 18 not one single blog.....

They think they are cleaver to sneak in a free ad for themselves, But little do they know the amount of exposure they could be getting if only they were more active members.

I sent invitations out to some of the agents I knew, even listed with in the past....All turned down the invites.

I wonder if they sell many homes when they lack the motovation to even type a few words.

I may be wrong they could be showing and selling so many homes right now they have no time to network. Or It could be they make so much money it is easier to pay for an ad and be done with it.

Either way I am disappointed.

 ivcohome@yahoo.com
http://www.ivcoinspectionservice.com

Jalapeño peppers are great in the summer time, and there is no need to heat up the kitchen. Cook theses treats on the grill.

All you need is;

8-10 med. To large jalapeño peppers split down the side and seeded.

1 pack of cream cheese room temperature

2-3 cloves of fresh garlic

¼ cup of fresh cilantro

In a med. Bowl add the cream cheese

Peal, smash, and then chop the garlic and add to the cheese

Chop cilantro fine mix cheese, garlic, and cilantro together

Stuff the peppers

Chill peppers in the fridge for about 30 min.

Take a 1 lb. pack of hickory smoked bacon and cut it in half (thick slice is better)

Wrap each pepper with a slice of bacon and secure with a toothpick.

Grill over indirect heat with the lid closed until bacon is slightly crisp.

Remove the toothpicks and enjoy.

Have a great grillin summer

The hot days of summer bring back memories of my childhood. Jumping in the creek, climbing the kudzu vines, and Mommas fried green tomatoes.

There are many ways to cook them, but here is a recipe that is sure to please.

You need 2 large or 3 med. green tomatoes pealed and cut into 1/2 inch slices.

a large skillet with about 2 cups of oil at 325 degrees

in a large bowl mix 2 cups of self-rising flour, salt, and pepper to your liking

in another bowl beat 1 egg then add 1 1/2 cups of milk mix well

dredge the tomato slices in the dry mix then dip into the wet mix then back to the dry mix

shake off any loose flour

carefully set slices into the hot oil

cook until golden brown then turn and brown the other side

drain on a stainless mesh wire or paper towel or newspaper what ever is handy

use any kind of dipping sauce you like ( I like blue cheese dressing)

enjoy the fruits of summer.

ivcohome@yahoo.com
http://www.ivcoinspectionservice.com

Sellers can speed their home inspection by following these suggestions. The inspection will go smoother, with fewer concerns to delay closing.

1. Confirm that water, electric and gas service are on, with gas pilot lights burning. This very important
2. Ensure pets won't hinder the inspection. Ideally, they should be removed from premises or secured outside. Tell your agent about any pets at home.
3. Replace burned out bulbs to avoid a "Light is inoperable" report that may suggest an electrical problem.
4. Test smoke and carbon monoxide detectors, and replace dead batteries.
5. Clean or replace dirty HVAC air filters. They should fit securely.
6. Remove stored items, debris and wood from foundation. These may be cited as "conducive conditions" for termites.
7. Remove items blocking access to HVAC equipment, electric service panels, water heaters, attics and crawl spaces.
8. Unlock areas the inspector must access - attic doors or hatches, electric service panels, closets, fence gates and crawl spaces.
9. Trim tree limbs to 10' from the roof and shrubs from the house to allow access.
10. Attend to broken or missing items like doorknobs, locks and latches; windowpanes, screens and locks; gutters, downspouts and chimney caps.

Checking these areas before your home inspection is an investment in selling your property. Your real estate agent will thank you!

International Association of Certified Home Inspectors   www.NACHI.org

Provided by your local InterNACHI inspector:

Michael Ivie

706-776-3748   ivcohome@yahoo.com   www.georgiahomeinspections.info

www.InspectorLocator.com

I am wanting to contact some of the local insurance companies about doing inspections on homes that they insure.

I have been told that a lot of homes have burnt in our area lately, and with the loan market in the condition it's in I can see why people would go to such measures.

Offering inspections on the electrical, plumbing, roof, and overall safety of the home could save companies a ton of money in claims.

My question to you would be how could I propose this service without being to pushy.

I had Brochures in mind but I am not sure what to put in it.

Any suggestions?

Refinishing wood floors

Home improvement stores have been a boon to modern homeowners because they offer a great variety of things for homeowners, including renting various equipment such as floor sanders. However, not having experience in handling a floor sander can leave a permanent gouge in the floor, and when that gouge is in the most noticeable area, you'll wish you had taken the day off while the flooring professional was doing the work. Replaced floor boards or slats will always look slightly different from those around them.

Repairing plumbing leaks

Some plumbing jobs are fairly easy, like connecting the new dishwasher to existing hookups, but that doesn't mean that it is easy to repair a leak in the water supply pipes or the sewer pipes. Proceeding without the appropriate tools and knowledge can result in a flood rather than just a leak, so hire a plumbing professional to repair leaks properly.

Repairing the foundation

If you find a crack in your foundation, or if your floors are sloped or sagging, call a foundation professional to identify and eliminate the cause. Many foundation problems are caused by water, so make sure your roof has gutters and downspouts and that the soil and concrete around your home slopes away from the foundation. Foundation planters full of flowering and tropical plants that require lots of water are another common cause of foundation damage. If you see water standing near the foundation after a rain or after your lawn irrigation system has been on, have a landscape professional design ways to prevent it.

Thats just some things that sometimes should be left to the pro's.

International Association of Certified Home Inspectors   www.NACHI.org

Provided by your local InterNACHI inspector:

Michael Ivie

706-776-3748   ivcohome@yahoo.com   www.georgiahomeinspections.info

Do you have a screwdriver, perhaps even an electric one? How about a hammer? A tape measure? Perhaps you even have a whole set of tools to do minor repairs around the home. However, just because you have them doesn't mean you should take on any task that comes along. As Kenny Rogers sings in "The Gambler": "Know when to hold ‘em, know when to fold ‘em, know when to walk away." You don't want to gamble with your property or your life, so knowing when the project is beyond your knowledge or skills is important. In many cases, you might not have the proper tools or are not sure what you're actually getting yourself into by taking on a task. Following are some tasks that are best left to the appropriate professionals

Repairing the roof

 Insurance companies report that most injuries in our homes result from falling, so why would you want to get up on a roof that has a slope; slippery, worn, or damaged shingles, and take the risk of falling? Saving a little money by trying to do your roof yourself is not worth the risk of spending time in the hospital or emergency room and paying the subsequent medical bills. There are countless stories of licensed roofing contractors falling off of roofs, being injured, and not being able to work again. If you need further justification for not taking on this task, head to the home improvement store and try lifting a bundle of asphalt shingles. Now picture yourself with that bundle on your shoulder, climbing the ladder, and balancing on a high slope. If  the whole roof needs to be replaced, the total scope of the job can be daunting: removing old layers, installing sheathing, and then installing new shingles. Roofing is hard and dangerous work best left to professionals.

Reflashing the chimney

Many roof leaks occur where the chimney meets the roof and usually mean that the chimney needs to be reflashed. This job ranks right up there with repairing the roof since it requires working on the roof and special expertise about flashing since it must be bent to an exact shape and then attached to the bricks and laid into the roof shingles.

Cleaning the fireplace and chimney

Fireplaces and chimneys should be cleaned annually to remove soot, ash, and creosote. If your nightly entertainment includes sitting in front of a fire watching a movie, your fireplace and chimney probably need a monthly cleaning. You already know how dangerous it is to climb up on the roof, and that happens to be the best way to reach the insides of the chimney, so leave it to the chimney sweep. Chimney sweeps have the tools to get the job done right, preventing damage to the fireplace or chimney that could create a fire hazard.

Installing or repairing electrical wiring

Although many states allow homeowners to do basically anything to their homes as long as the appropriate permits are acquired, it is against the law in some communities for anyone other than a licensed electrician to wire inside a home. Electricians know the various electrical codes, so let them do the electrical work inside your home. It's easier than you might think to be shocked or electrocuted, or to spark a fire, or to have everything look and work fine when you finish only to have a problem occur sometime in the future because the work wasn't done right.

Removing asbestos-containing materials

Asbestos was used as insulation in homes up until 1979, but we now know that it causes several types of cancer when it is disturbed and becomes airborne, allowing you to breathe it into your lungs. Generally it doesn't belong in your home but can be left in place in some areas as long as it is not disturbed and as long as you know it's there. Many states consider asbestos a hazardous material, requiring a license to remove and dispose of properly. With the health risks involved, this task is best left to a trained professional who many times will show up in a space suit with some interesting tools and equipment, things that you probably don't have stashed away in your closet.

 Pruning large trees

Climbing up a tree with a chainsaw to prune branches is not a task to take lightly. In addition to not knowing anything about the condition of all the branches-are they strong enough to support you?-you probably don't know how to prune the tree without causing major damage to it, damage that could cause it to die. And while tree branches are beautiful when swaying in the wind, they are not so beautiful when they're laying on your neighbor's roof, car, or fence. Tree surgeons have appropriate tools, knowledge, and insurance to handle this; let them do it.

Repairing driveway cracks

While it might be easy to seal small cracks with various compounds from the home improvement store, fixing the bigger cracks is a bigger task. Big cracks usually result from other problems, usually related to water and soil, which should be addressed before you waste time patching them each month. Have the cracks and soil evaluated to determine what might be causing the damage. Sometimes the driveway really should be ripped up and rebuilt rather than patched.

International Association of Certified Home Inspectors  ¿  www.NACHI.org

Provided by your local InterNACHI inspector:

Michael Ivie

706-776-3748  ¿   ¿  www.georgiahomeinspections.info