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remodeling: My Client Got An Estimate And Asked My Opinion - 05/08/12 04:26 AM
It was a big house, 15 years old, wood siding, wood windows, wood window sills and lots of rot. How far the rot extends under the siding, or around the windows and doors, or under the gutters, and so forth is UNKNOWN. That will certainly need attention.
My client wanted to change the siding to fiber cement, replace the windows with vinyl and wrap all the trim with aluminum. Smart plan.
My client got an estimate and asked my opinion.
I am not without opinions and ask my clients to contact me when they have questions. NOT ALL DO THAT!
The … (32 comments)
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remodeling: Watch Your Weight! - 09/19/10 05:49 AM
A recent inspection proved interesting. Aren't they all? This was a house purchased on auction and remodeled. I don't know if that qualifies as a flip, but probably.
The house was built in 1978, and that is significant. Why? Because of architecture.
The remodel job was beautiful at first glance. There were the usual things. A lot of electrical wiring problems hidden in the attic were the most prominent. And a gas furnace and water heater crammed into a small closet and unable to breath.
But there is more. As I said, the architecture is important.
One of the biggest differences … (66 comments)
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remodeling: Just Helping Out - 08/19/10 08:04 AM
Last weekend I went to visit my daughter and son-in-law. She is due to have a baby, our first grand child, in October. I went out to have a look at their house just before their one-year warranty expired and to do some remodeling in the house. And I can tell you, I was busy all weekend!
First order of business was the baby's nursery. Not knowing the gender (even the doctor does not know, by choice, and a choice I agree with!) the walls are painted blue. I had … (14 comments)
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remodeling: If You Buy One Now, We'll Throw In Another One For Free!! - 02/01/10 06:38 AM
HI! Billy Jays here! (The screen fills with me with black, dyed hair and a beard)
Aren't you tired of dealing with that pesky gutter end cap??
I know I am. All it does is cause clogs! And there you are, time after time after time again, up on the ladder, cleaning clog after clog. (The screen shows a middle-aged man, high on his ladder, cleaning huge handfuls of mucky muck from his gutter, disgustedly throwing each to the ground below)
Well, those days are gone!!
Now you won't have to clean a single gutter ever again! That's right!! NEVER … (11 comments)
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remodeling: This Was VERY Disappointing To See - 01/31/10 11:28 AM
I was called and asked to do an inspection on a house being sold by an individual who is a practicing Licensed Architect and Class A Licensed Contractor. His company advertises "Design and Build." I was also told the house was quite remodeled and gorgeous.
This could not have been a more disappointing inspection, given the build up.
This is representative of the kinds of things I found during the inspection. My report was three times longer than the normal report, for having to write about all the improper and/or dangerous things I discovered while there.
Inspectors will notice about seven … (19 comments)
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remodeling: "Nonsense" - 11/28/09 06:58 AM
On a home inspection last week the house had a newly finished basement. It was supposedly finished by a Class A contractor, who is also an investor. The common term would be flipper.
The Realtor told me this particular investor has flipped many houses in the area.
Let's call him "Flipper." Flipper is not using a Realtor - he's selling it himself!
Among other things in the basement, there were many "clues" that the electrical alone was not professional, not to code and done without a permit. Alright, they weren't clues, they were obviously unprofessional installations!
For example:
~~ The entire … (18 comments)
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remodeling: A Compass, A Map, And You Can Find Anything - 11/08/09 05:58 AM
The house was warm, so I knew there was a furnace.
The water was hot, so I knew there was a water heater.
I just couldn't find them! The layout of the (lovely) basement made it hard to get my house geography. The six "bedrooms" were placed in a weird array. The former laundry room was no more, in favor I guess of rent from another "bedroom" and the local laundromat. But I was undaunted in my search.
I knew where they should be, I just couldn't see how to get to them!
Finally, behind a "bedroom" bureau, I saw … (11 comments)
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remodeling: What's Wrong With This Picture... I Mean Panel Box? - 11/07/09 05:18 AM
"Must See the Newly Renovated Basement!"
Dèjà veux!
This might seem similar to my previous post. And it is.
When the heat pump in that previous post did not come on, the first thing I checked was the panel box to see if the breaker for the heat pump was turned off.
I was able to peek into the box, literally, and see that it was on. So I knew the heat pump had electrical power.
Entering the basement I was able to see a fine new paint job.
And this clever, nearly square, nearly level, neatly-cut hole around the panel … (17 comments)
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remodeling: What's Wrong With This Picture... I Mean Heat Pump? - 11/06/09 03:27 PM
"Must See the Newly Renovated Basement!"
So said the marketing info on the kitchen counter in the house I arrived to inspect.
I could hardly wait! OK, when I see things like that, lately anyway, I kind of cringe.
When I enter houses for inspections, I begin by turning things on. The dishwasher, washer, dryer, AC or furnace, and so forth. Obviously I test 'em!
The house was kind of cold. Not unusual, sometimes the listing agents leave the heat low, especially after the house has a contract on it. So I found the thermostat and turned on the heat.
… (11 comments)
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remodeling: Hide and Seek Water Heater - 10/10/09 05:07 PM
The water heater was no where to be found.
There was this fine laundry room, beside the fine "bathroom" (door to the right). That bath could be a story in itself, but I digress.
The laundry room was special in its own right. You can see the water connection on the wall. And there was no drain, so I assumed that the washer drained into that special floor drain in the foreground. That is packaging tape over it now - keeps the snakes out.
I don't know where that floor drain goes. Perhaps to the creek behind the house.
The … (6 comments)
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remodeling: Move In Condition - 10/09/09 08:15 PM
This is what greeted me in the front window of my inspection yesterday. I knew I was in for a treat!
The inspection was indeed a treat, but writing the report was not! I knew from this particular Realtor's name that there was fun to be had in this inspection. Reputation you know. But an inspector has to be careful - there are lots of things that are hidden and not easily detectable.
The report had 165 items in the summary of concerns. That might not be the record, but it is up there.
Here is a tour of … (16 comments)
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remodeling: I Am Not Your General Contractor! - 10/08/09 09:19 PM
Well, at least not for free.
I get interesting phone calls. This one was from a seller. “Your home inspection cost me a lot of money. I cannot sell my house until I fix the problems you said on your report. I have a contractor here now. You need to stop by immediately and tell him what to do. I am the house on Virginia Avenue.”
“Ma’am, I remember the house well, and all the problems. But, I am not nearby, have an appointment now and another after that. I can’t drop all that simply to stop by your house. … (45 comments)
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remodeling: An Historic Mess! - 08/28/09 04:43 AM
I was excited recently when I was called to inspect a very historic property in Northern Virginia. Built in 1902, it has been actively listed and on the market for two years. No offers. Historic properties abound here and I love seeing them. The picture is blurry.
The buyer had grand plans to fix it up a bit and rent it out for a while until the market improves. They were grand plans.
I met him in front. He said, "We need to go through the back door."
"No problem. Let's go."
… (113 comments)
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remodeling: The Same "Remodeled" Kitchen - ANOTHER Wiring Disaster!! - 07/28/09 07:24 PM
Yes, it's the same, "Must see!", wonderfully "remodeled" kitchen.
This time it's the opposite side.
This view looks behind the new range and exhaust hood combo.
The white hole on the left is behind the new exhaust hood. Apparently some Romex cable was dissected and its guts removed. Those guts were used to connect the exhaust hood to electrical as three individual wires. I was unable to determine where the yellow cable came from. For all I know, it came from the light fixture in the bathroom above the kitchen!
But, hey! AT LEAST ITS GROUNDED!! And wire nuts!
That … (10 comments)
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remodeling: Another "Remodeled" Kitchen - And Another Wiring Disaster - 07/28/09 05:03 PM
Don't touch! The wires might come out, bite you, spark, burn - who knows.
This house boasted yet another "Must See!" remodeled kitchen. New cabinets, new kitchen sink, new appliances including a new disposal and -
OLD WIRING...
You might have noticed that this wiring did not quite reach the new disposal in its previous, more complete form. You know, insulated, together, properly entering the disposal, safely held by a CONNECTOR CLAMP.
Since the cable you see would not reach, it should have been connected to newer wiring inside a box. This junction box should have been secured to the … (14 comments)
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remodeling: Return To HVACbithia - 07/18/09 06:15 AM
Entering a small, older house the other day I noticed how cool the air felt. It was a hot day and certainly the heat pump was doing its job well.
The literature stated that a completely new heat pump system was professionally put in earlier this year! So the Realtor stated anyway in the brochure.
Going up the stairs I looked up and noticed the return.
Yep, that's it right there!
Professionally done.
You can see how clean it is though! Brand new.
Even cuter was the ceiling in one bedroom. It seems there was no way to get the mechanism … (14 comments)
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remodeling: What's The Best Way To Finish Off A Big Project? - 07/17/09 02:13 PM
How about a little nappie?
… (7 comments)
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remodeling: Are You Connected? - 07/17/09 08:53 AM
I often do inspections on older houses that have been remodeled. This one turned out to be a pretty good one. There were a few things, there always are it seems. But this one thing stood out.
This very new disposal was installed and they used the old cable to do so. While that isn't necessarily a problem, two things needed to be done.
First, the cable should have been trimmed a bit to utilize new, smooth copper and get rid of the frayed material.
And, second, they should have used a connector clamp and secured the cable to the drain … (11 comments)
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remodeling: Jay's Floor 8 - Grand Finale - 07/17/09 06:57 AM
It is about time I got this out. As I have said, time is time is time.
This is the dining room, left side.
We used to have a large Persian rug under the table, but my wife likes the flooring so much we will have to find another place for it.
This is the view of the dining room, right side.
The gate is to keep the kids (meaning the dogs) out of this room. Too much opportunity to mark the … (10 comments)
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remodeling: Completely Remodeled - We All Sag With Age - (#3 of 3) - 07/11/09 05:47 AM
In this last post of the "remodeled house" that proved so interesting, when I pulled up to the house I noticed that the roof was sagging in many places. Not just sagging, but BADLY.
It is common for an older house to have a couple of roof sags here and there. This house was 55 years old. I can tell you that some things do in fact sag at 55. But that is perhaps fodder for another post...
I pointed the sagging out to my buyer during the exterior inspection, promising that we would investigate further from inside the attic.
We … (11 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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