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home inspector: Five Things About Home Inspections Your Buyers Might Not Know - 08/05/11 05:22 AM
I was asked to write an article for a popular speaker/writer's website about home inspections. They gave me the topic, "Five Things About Home Inspections Your Buyers Might Not Know." It published yesterday, so I thought I would share it with you too. You have seen all of this before, just not together!
You can read the original article here, as published: http://www.dalesiegel.com/blog-posts/five-things-about-home-inspections-you-may-not-be-aware-of.html
The invitation to contribute to her site was very appreciated!
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The home inspection business is like every other business – it changes all the time. And it is getting better! There are always new tools, new … (23 comments)
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home inspector: "Home Inspectors Are Just Placebos" - 12/21/09 05:09 AM
It was a phone call from a concerned, potential, client. He is building a new townhouse. A friend told him to hire a roofer to make sure that rubber was put between his roof and the houses next to his.
Yes, that puzzled me too.
I told him that step flashing and some form of counter flashing, even if it was vinyl siding, is an appropriate transition between roof and sides. And that I had never heard of using rubber. But, "I can check that flashing for you. You really don't need a roofer. In fact, a roofer is going to … (100 comments)
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home inspector: When A Checkbook Is More Than A Checkbook - 06/17/09 03:57 AM
Last Saturday I had an inspection with someone who is buying the house he has been renting. No Realtor, no lawyer to review things, just a deal between my client and the seller. Not my recommended approach, but to each his own.
As always, I ask people how they got my name. Usually I am referred by someone, a realtor or another client. He said, "Checkbook dot org." I had never heard of them! You have to subscribe to get into the information, but you can find references on people from virtually every trade as rated by the people who used … (4 comments)
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home inspector: Water Can Run, But It Can't Hide - 06/01/09 07:26 AM
When people call me for a one-year warranty inspection, I always recommend they add a thermal-infrared image examination to it to check insulation. That is really the main reason I recommend IR as leaking usually isn't a problem they haven't already discovered.
During this particular exam I found water getting behind gutters, into the interior where stucco meets vinyl siding or faux stone and in the bases of porch columns. While none of those things is terribly unusual, it is important to try to find out why water is getting in.
Well, a drip edge is really needed on most … (17 comments)
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home inspector: A Loud And Fiery Death - 03/29/09 07:05 PM
I got an interesting email tonight. It was from a client I visited on Saturday.
The Saturday visit was to help him out. He is a renter and there is water damage to the parquet flooring inside the front door. It only happens sometimes. His landlord accused him of leaving the door open during a long rain storm. Well, it's a theory, but not a great one. He couldn't figure out why the water was coming in, but knew he didn't leave the door open when it rains.
Nonetheless, my client was gong to be charged for damaging the floor. The … (14 comments)
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home inspector: Update - Chinese Drywall - The Lawyers Have Landed - 03/21/09 08:14 AM
Well, you knew this was coming. The Chinese drywall problem is worsening. As it does, people will be looking for more and more remedies.
http://www.walletpop.com/blog/2009/03/18/the-lawyers-have-landed-in-the-uproar-over-chinese-drywall/
In addition to the plumbing, electrical and air conditioner problems, people are now reporting damage to televisions, computers, microwaves, refrigerators, various electrical appliances, jewelry, door stops - this list will grow with time. This problem will grow with time. We import Chinese stuff all the time. Our relationship has grown with time. It is time we stop to rethink this trade relationship.
Do you think importers are going to wise up? Think carefully...
And you knew … (16 comments)
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home inspector: Do You See What A.C.?? - 03/18/09 05:22 AM
At first glance you may not notice everything this photo has to offer. Most people would focus on the AC unit in the window, um, hole in the wall. It is a long story, as it should be -- after all, it was a very long home inspection.
The "structure" on the right is one of three (very) illegal additions to this house. It was build directly onto a thin slab poured onto the back yard. The slab was very cracked, so its foundation may not have been the best. It is also sinking. It would not have supported patio furniture, … (9 comments)
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home inspector: Do You Want A Home Inspector Or An Engineer? - 03/04/09 09:17 AM
I had a call from a prospective client. She needed a home inspection. Her first question was, "Are you an engineer?"
What can I say? "No, I am not. Do you think the house needs to be seen by an engineer or a home inspector?"
She didn't know. "All I know is my boss told me to get a home inspector who is an engineer."
"I am sorry, I don't know any I can refer you to. I know a lot of engineers and work with a few. And I know a lot of home inspectors. But I do not know … (21 comments)
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home inspector: Is An Outhouse Illegal? What About An Inhouse? - 02/23/09 07:11 AM
It's been a long time - are outhouse laws still on the books?
There are Port O' Potties everywhere, albeit temporary. I have seen them in people's yards. Hopefully they are there for a short-term reason. But I don't know about outhouses.
Do sellers try to hide things? Interesting construction, booby traps they set for inspectors, illegal installations? Yes! Yes they do! Well, some do. This is something I ran across well over a decade ago, but thought you might find it, shall we say, unusual!
This was a ranch house, with a full basement. There was an unfinished side, with … (25 comments)
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home inspector: These Stamps Aren't Made For Mailing - 02/18/09 07:31 PM
It was a lovely home, very large, bricked, huge hip roof with a gabled window on each side, and beautiful, newly-installed cedar shakes. Gorgeous! Outside and then inside. And for $1.5 mil it should be!
My client and I had a good time. There was little to speak about really - for a new home I was pleasantly surprised. The supervisor beamed. He had done a good job. My client was impressed and very happy.
It was time for the attic. The pull-down stairs made it easy as the ceilings were 10' high. There was lots to see in the attic … (20 comments)
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home inspector: My Weirdest Inspection Ever - Can You Top This? - 02/17/09 09:31 AM
Recently I was asked about the weirdest inspection I have ever done. That was an easy one!
Years ago I pulled up to a very well maintained property. Not much unusual at first glance – white siding, black roof, black shutters, window and door trim. As is my custom, I looked at the outside and met my clients when they arrived to walk around again with them. It was time to go inside.
The Realtor opened the door and everyone invited me to go first. I wondered about the nervous giggling behind me. They wanted to see my reaction.
The door … (33 comments)
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home inspector: You Can Do It Cheap, Or You Can Do It Right - 02/12/09 06:58 AM
An entire inspection of a foreclosure recently was spent with my buyer client and her "contractor." I use the quotes around the word contractor intentionally.
Not realizing I speak Spanish, in each room they were discussing the best way to hide this, or cheaply repair that, or cover this or clean the mold off of that. I listened and understood.
I did my thing, they did theirs.
Please understand -- my thing is to provide the best service I can, no matter what the outcome.
Their thing was something entirely different.
Finally, in the master bathroom, there had been serious leaking … (70 comments)
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home inspector: Will I After Tea And Cakes And Ices, Have The Strength To Force This Moment To Its Crisis? - 01/31/09 05:25 PM
Last inspection for January - it's the 31st. I knew the house would have problems when there was no key in the lock box.
The seller (investor, who bought and "remodeled" a foreclosure) was called and sent his wife with the key.
We waited 45 minutes.
Well, the only thing odd about the house was something I have not seen before. I should share. All four outlets in a bedroom tested fine. I use the Inspector II Live Load Branch Circuit Analyzer by Tasco, Inc. It simulates an 80% load on a circuit (15 or 20 amps) and tests for 6 … (16 comments)
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home inspector: How Can Tens of Millions of Square Feet of House Be Recalled? - 01/29/09 05:34 AM
After hurricane Katrina there were shortages of various construction materials. There was too much that needed to be done at one time. One thing in short supply was drywall. This immediate need inspired the importation of tens of millions of square feet of drywall. No problem - so builders imported drywall.
It sat on barges at sea until it was approved. Some say it absorbed moisture. Some say it did not. But it was approved and admitted and used in thousands of houses in Florida, Virginia and perhaps elsewhere - 2004, 2005 and 2006. It turns out the drywall was bad … (12 comments)
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home inspector: To Home Warranty Or Not To Home Warranty... - 01/26/09 08:03 AM
My house is 10 years old. I received an insert from the mortgage company. It is an offer to purchase a home warranty. Everything in my house is original except the disposal.
I have never purchased one! My clients often do. You are going to have to help me here.
This one is underwritten by HomeSure of Virginia. I am not familiar with them. It covers everything that my disaster insurance does not - appliances, systems, etc. Everything.
Terms: $38/month, added to my mortgage payment. Deductible $60 per service call, 24/7. (That is cheap compared to some I have seen) They … (15 comments)
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home inspector: Does Your House Leak? How About Your Listing? - 01/24/09 06:38 AM
If you are interested in quick answers to leaky house questions, general or specific, there is a useful website to log on to. Your Leaking House, created and maintained by Carl Brown and Dale Duffy. It is populated by knowledgeable home inspectors nationwide who contribute and share their experiences and solutions. More than anything it is a site created to allow inspectors to vent - new construction, old construction, remodeling - it is all discussed. Roofs, stucco, faux stone, vinyl, foundations, flashing and brick - you name it, if it leaks, you will find it there.
We all need to learn. … (15 comments)
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home inspector: From One Roof To Another... - 01/21/09 10:14 AM
A while ago, I arrived at a house to do a home inspection. I habitually get to home inspections early to get various things done before others arrive. The buyer's realtor knew that, she knows me too well, and she told the listing agent. I was met early by both realtors, buyer and seller. They told me that the seller was a single, very senior, recently-widowed woman who desperately needed to sell the house for financial reasons. They outlined all that had been done to the house to ready it for sale. And, oh, that there was a new, one-year old … (18 comments)
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home inspector: Nancy Drew And the Mystery of the Secret Window Gap - 01/19/09 11:09 AM
Recently I did and inspection on a new home on which I had previously done a pre-drywall inspection. That was three months previous!
The builder was VERY slow to finish the house. The supervisor said they had "taken their time to get it right." At this point you are supposed to cough and say, "Um, okaaaaay!" He also challenged the buyers that if I found "anything" (his word) he would be surprised. They have their final walk through next Monday morning. Boy, is this supervisor going to be surprised!!
There was the typical stuff on a new home - the attic … (11 comments)
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home inspector: Dual Agency... And "I" Blew the Deal - 01/19/09 07:51 AM
I did an inspection. I do them now and again.
This one involved a dual agent - she "represented" both sides of the deal, buyer and seller.
She did not tell me that prior to the inspection.
It would not have made a difference anyway, but she should have been upfront.
The house was a flip. It was seriously remodeled. The term "severely remodeled" could also apply.
There was much done to this house, and VERY unprofessionally. During the inspection, I used the word "unprofessional" a lot. There were electrical things done that were "unprofessional." Plumbing "unprofessional." Drywall "unprofessional." Siding "unprofessional." … (93 comments)
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home inspector: It's Not Only Freezing Outside, But Inside Too! - 01/17/09 05:14 PM
I have received three calls* in two days for freezing pipes. That is not so unusual...
It's where the pipes are freezing that makes this so odd. You see, in every call, it is the kitchen sink cold water pipe that is freezing!
It has been very cold and got to 5 degrees F last night at my house in Northern Virginia. We get that now and then, but not often. I say "cold" fully realizing that 5 degrees is T-shirt weather for some of you people... but that is beside the point.
Often in the past I have gotten calls … (5 comments)
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Jay Markanich - Northern VA Home Inspector
Bristow,
VA
More about me…
Jay Markanich Real Estate Inspections, LLC
Address: 12315 Sherborne Street, Bristow, VA, 20136
Office Phone: (703) 330-6388
Cell Phone: (703) 585-7560
Email Me
An experienced home inspector's look at current home inspection events and conditions along with his useful recommendations.
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