unprofessional work: Gluing Down Toilets To Make Sure They NEVER Move! - 02/07/13 02:55 AM
You have to love consistency and you have to admire somebody who loves his job so much he wants permanence in what he does!  And this consistent, permanent fellow likes gluing down toilets to make sure they NEVER move!
In fact, the buyer and I were admiring one of these when the wife of the duo, who actually found the house and wrote a contract without his husband seeing it, screamed about an oddity she had just found!
Certainly these are glued down so well that those silly, extraneous bolt things are absolutely not necessary!
Flanges - don't need them!  Bolts … (61 comments)

unprofessional work: "What The Hell Is This!?" - 02/06/13 03:49 AM
While examining some very fun things in a newly-finished basement (perhaps even without a permit), from behind me I heard my client's wife scream, "What the hell is this!?"
I have to say, given some of the stuff we had been looking at, she got our attention!
I turned to see her standing in front of a doorway, pointing inside.
Well, it was the electric panel box.
It looked a bit like the spaghetti special offered at the local Italian restaurant.
The cover was missing.
There was interesting wiring.
Overall it was a very dangerous thing!
I told her not to … (114 comments)

unprofessional work: An Inspection In A Snow Storm, And A Return To See Why This Roof Leaks - 12/28/12 01:23 AM
Due to travel schedules a client needed an inspection December 26.  Most people aren't in the mood for such a thing, like the sellers!  But they wanted to sell their house and consented before Christmas to the date.
The night before and that morning we had a small, slushy snow fall.  By morning there were two inches in some places.  Including this house!
Approaching the front porch, over which is a 6'x4' flat roof, I noticed something.
There was staining on the aluminum siding.
Getting closer, and waiting a while, I saw the first drip.
Then more.
So I snapped a … (23 comments)

unprofessional work: Builder Grade Deck - 12/16/12 04:29 AM
The first thing I noticed on the builder grade deck was the Trex decking, seen when I went into the kitchen.  I thought that was great as Trex is a more expensive product.  It is a composite material, mostly plastic, and lasts a long time without the same problems or care that come with wood.
But I was disappointed to see that the screws used to install the decking were erratically placed, with some sticking up over 1/8" and others buried very deeply into the board.
My disappointment continued when I looked underneath.
This is an example of what I mean.
… (25 comments)

unprofessional work: "What Do You Do When They Nail Through The Shingles?" - 12/07/12 02:51 AM
On a recent pre-drywall inspection I noticed that the scaffolding all over the house, used to install both brick and vinyl siding, had the support arms nailed right through the shingles.
Pointing this out to the supervisor, and in front of my client, I pointed to a nearby support arm asked, "What do you do when they nail through the shingles?"  He shook his head.  I don't know if he had previously noticed it or not.
It is understood in every roofing circle that you do not nail through the shingles.
What they try to do when the support arms are … (40 comments)

unprofessional work: Throw A Repair At It, And Hope It Works - 11/12/12 04:06 AM
Things done wrong from the start will not get better if the builder would throw a repair at it, and hope it works.
A little balcony leaked from the very first rain.  It's a small deck off an office on the upper level of the house.  Not very large, about 4'x8', it is surrounded by a solid wall, and it's flat deck is covered by two, removable decking surfaces.
After the very first rain, and dripping into the roof below, the builder sent a "repair" crew. 
Without knowing it would work the "repair" crew slopped tar all along where the deck … (45 comments)

unprofessional work: Thing One And Thing Two - 11/03/12 04:26 AM
Thing One and Thing Two.  Nope, not The Cat In The Hat here.  Here is one thing leading to another.  
New house, six month walk through.  A few things - there was a very hot upper level this summer.  They have not experienced a winter yet, but if it was hot in the summer, as we know, it will be cold in the winter.
Another complaint was that there is no HVAC in the upstairs hall bathroom, a fairly large room, about 8'x9'.
Well, the bathroom was easy. 
Looking into the attic there was a duct in place to service … (31 comments)

unprofessional work: Get Real! You Can Do Better Than This! - 10/26/12 04:31 AM
Again, on new construction, you just want to grab the guy and say, "Get real!  You can do better than this!"
This is what we saw coming around the back side of the house.
This is a guy who knows purple primer should be used on PVC tubing.
This is a guy who does not understand aesthetics.
I notice that the sump pump guy understands both of those things to the point where he did not make his installation so ugly.  He didn't take the UPC stickers off, however.  Why not?
When my clients asked me what could be done now … (29 comments)

unprofessional work: Be Sure To Check The Back Side (I'm Not Referring To People, People!) - 10/21/12 06:43 AM
When you are on a home inspection and the feature list says to look at particular things, be sure to check the back side (I'm not referring to people, people!).
Yes, the features included a "beatifully refurbished and painted deck!"
OK, very nice.  Let's have a look.
When I hear or see the word "refurbished," I am going to check out everything!
Now let's see, the "refurbishER," um:
1.  Didn't notice this while caulking and painting it.2.  Ran out of caulk.3.  Thought the bare wood needed to breath.4.  Was sure that since this is on the BACK SIDE nobody would notice … (19 comments)

unprofessional work: A Given Occasion To Revisit - Another Incomplete Roof Repair - 10/17/12 04:16 AM
On occasion I have the opportunity to stop back by a vacant house where there were things identified on a home inspection that desperately needed attention.  I was driving by, so, with a given occasion to revisit - another incomplete roof repair, I went into the yard to see something.
The seller feature information included that the five-year-old roof recently was given a complete bill of health inside and outside by a roofer.  Well, there was no receipt and the name of the "roofer" was not known, but at least it was given a good review.
What's different is that the … (18 comments)

unprofessional work: Avoiding A Fire In The Attic Space - 10/15/12 04:18 AM
You gotta love Flippers!
The "features" information for this house included "Gorgeous new lighting for the kitchen!"  The ceiling had seven, large, well-placed recessed lights. 
And it was true!  The kitchen had a wall opened up (still trying to get info from an engineer on that one) and was a big 12' x 18'.  That's a nice kitchen in anyone's book, especially in a 60 year old house.  And the lighting was very well done.
I think Flipper must have read the installation instructions.  I think he was avoiding a fire in the attic space.
Recessed lights come with "IC" … (45 comments)

unprofessional work: The Buyer Got That Sinking Feeling, Before We Went Inside - 10/11/12 03:22 AM
I am not a fan of greeting a buyer and then showing them bad news from the parking lot, but in this case the buyer got that sinking feeling, before we went inside.
It was the sinking stairs and stoop that caused that feeling!
To make it worse, Flipper FIXED it!
This is the view I got from my car as I pulled up to the house.
I knew from my conversation with the buyer that this was a flip.
They felt there were some things "just not right with the house."
When the buyer says that, you know you are … (29 comments)

unprofessional work: Cut And Paste - 10/08/12 02:12 AM
Any time you want to edit a project, before you show it to the world, it often requires editing in the form of cut and paste.
Cut and paste is simple.  You highlight the area you want to edit, push CTRL C, move to where you want the new look to appear, push CTRL V, and veeeeoooola!  You have a new look!
Here we have your basic homeowner cut and paste roofing job.
This is a flat roof over a front porch.  It is a total of 8'x6'.  Rolled roofing was simply laid in place.  Perhaps it was glued down.  All … (17 comments)

unprofessional work: Already Chipped? - 10/01/12 02:05 AM
New condos should come in new condition.  Everything.  What if the granite counter top is already chipped?

Can you see it?
It's right before the corner, bottom edge.
To the left of the sink.
This corner is the most often-passed corner in the kitchen.
How did the inspector find it?
How would you have found it if you lived here?
The inspector was walking around the corner, with his hand on the edge.
Rounding the corner I felt the chipped edge.
Would the homeowner have found it?
Certainly.  Maybe soon after moving in, or maybe not for a while.  But … (53 comments)

unprofessional work: The Builder Says They Will Only Fix Code Violations. Really? - 09/26/12 04:14 AM
I am sometimes asked to sign something before a new construction inspection in which the builder says they will only fix code violations.  Really?
So let's look at a couple of things on a recent new construction final inspection.  This is the final "reveal," when the builder is "showing off" the final product.
Looking under and inside things is important.  I never know what I might find!
For instance, I looked into the kitchen cabinet under the six-burner gas cook top.
This is what I found.
What are you looking at?
That is a receptacle without a cover.
My grandmother finished … (22 comments)

unprofessional work: Let Me Translate, Well, As Much As I Can - 09/23/12 05:33 AM
This is a brand new condo in one of the oldest neighborhoods in the area - Alexandria VA.  My client is a single woman, in her 60s, from the Middle East.  She works where I was born (George Washington University) and speaks English like a native.
One thing she was interested in was the electric panel box.  She needed instruction. She did not understand how to turn things on and off and what each "button thing" meant. 
I assured her it was all very easy to understand, and that I would demonstrate as we looked at the box.
She, the Realtor … (24 comments)

unprofessional work: Whirlpool Access - 09/15/12 03:44 AM
This is a custom house.  It is six years old.  I like to inspect custom houses because I find the work there to be of superior quality.  The builders are smaller and don't build the same house in every neighborhood.
Custom houses usually have spectacular carpentry, features, kitchens and bathrooms.  Bathrooms usually have large whirlpool tubs.
When there is a whirlpool tub present, it is very important to look for and know where the whirlpool access panel is.
Make sure the builder has provided access!  Why?  If the motor breaks or there is a leak, typically the tub is surrounded by … (13 comments)

unprofessional work: You Know It's Going To Be A Fun Inspection When ... - 08/25/12 03:33 AM
You know it's going to be a fun inspection when ...
The first thing you see is not quite correct!
So, did the boys cut and install a floor register that is too big?
Or, did the boys simply buy and install the wrong sized register covers?
How about a quiz?
Pick any that might apply:
1.  This is an upgrade.  It's a laundry chute for GI Joe or Barbi & Ken clothing.2.  There is nothing amiss here.  Keep going about your inspection.  Everything is fine.  (Jedi mind trick)3.  The register cover is made to slide left and right depending on … (28 comments)

unprofessional work: "Shouldn't The Door On My House Be Like The One In The Model?" - 08/24/12 04:24 AM
In this case "Shouldn't the door on my house be like the one in the model?" was the question, but anything could have been substituted for the word "door." 
Unless the contract stipulates differently, I think what comes in the model should be the example of what comes with another house.  I think the quality of work that is done on the model should be the example of the quality of work that comes with another house.
FYI - this same door in the model home was large, metal and had two difficult-to-manage handles controlling a substantial locking mechanism built into … (43 comments)

unprofessional work: This Must Be Considered "Finished Carpentry" On Some New Construction - 08/20/12 03:06 AM
At this point in my career as a home inspector I like to say that I am continually amazed but seldom surprised. 
This must be considered "finished carpentry" on some new construction.  HOW UNFORTUNATE.
There is laminate flooring throughout the house.  Looking like hardwood flooring, it must be treated as such when the finished carpentry is done.
Trim and molding needs to be set right.  Things should fit together attractively. 
FINISHED CARPENTRY SHOULD LOOK FINISHED.
Most of the doors in this house looked like this.
This is the left side of the master bathroom door.
The room is set up such … (26 comments)

 
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Jay Markanich - N. Virginia Home Inspector

Bristow, VA

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Jay Markanich Real Estate Inspections, LLC

Address: 12315 Sherborne Street, Bristow, VA, 20136

Office Phone: (703) 330-6388

Cell Phone: (703) 585-7560

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