One of the things I look up prior to an inspection is the amount of time on the market.  This gives me some idea concerning the condition of the house.  Yes, there are variables that I can't foresee, but, generally, the longer a house is on the market (especially if it is vacant) the worse it looks. 

Today people are looking for a bargain and there are plenty of them out there. What many buyers don't seem to understand is that bargains might contain problems.  They are immensely disappointed when the bargain house they are looking at has some severe issues.

  The photo on the left shows an attic in a house I recently  inspected.  There are several problems with the attic (chimney, insulation and etc.) and I called out all of them in the report which caused the buyer to walk away from the deal.  I don't embellish the facts with opinions, but I do let my clients know what it takes to be sure the major issues are corrected.  Clients take the information hard, they see their dream house (at a bargain price) crumbling around them and it is, at least, depressing.  

I understand the emotional highs and lows of trying to buy a house and finding that the truth is not always what it was when they entered into the agreement in the first place. Freshly painted walls, new siding and bathroom fixtures have a tendency to overshadow the serious issues, such as the one above. 

First time home buyers are the most susceptible to the (what I call) "Rose Colored Glasses Syndrome" and I take special care with these clients.  There are ways to state the facts without impugning their intelligence for even considering the house in the first place. 

  Sometimes the buyer shoots the messenger andI feel really bad about being the messenger of ill tidings.  As in the photo to the left where the plumbing needed to be redone correctly, but at the time of the inspection the drains were working, the garbage disposal disposed of the garbage, and the dishwasher didn't get any of the garbage the disposal was putting out.  They explained to that I was way to picky and as long as it was working it was okay.

Homeowners and potential homeowners I don't want to make my job harder.  Therefore, I don't make anything up.  Reports just state what I find, nothing more and nothing less.  I just report what I see and usually that is plenty for me to report.  Wouldn't it be wonderful if every home I inspected only needed a 1 page report. By the way, both of the houses where I took the above photos were beautiful older homes that had been "completely redone".

Jack Gilleland

Home Inspection and Investor Services, Clayton

Now that we are back doing some rehabing for our out-of-state investors I have become more critical about the condition of the rehabs I inspect.

When a rehab is complete it should look complete.  Anyone that presents their work for sale (all of ours are rentals) should be proud to walk any prospective buyer through the property.  I don't understand the lack of pride in the completed work.

The homes in these pictures all had offers and I was doing the Home Inspection for the prospective buyer.

The blue line isn't decorative, it is painters tape.

If your trying to sell you don't leave this type of condition.

Today's market is one that demands you have an edge on every comparable house on the market.  The above houses will sell or rent slower than ones that have been completed with pride.

Jack Gilleland

Home Inspection and Investor Services, Clayton

I truly mean this.  The world is what we make it, and "This Year" at "This Time" we need to work very hard to make it the best.

Thanks to everyone who makes my experience on activerain a really good one.

Jack

Jack Gilleland

Home Inspection and Investor Services, Clayton

There are a number of things you don't want to hear during an inspection.  Some are said by the inspector, but others could be said by the homeowner, Real Estate Agent, or even client/buyer.  Here are some of my favorites:

"We had an Electrician go through the whole house and there isn't any knob and tube wiring left."

"The roof is only 7 years old and they stripped it down to the rafters when they replaced it.

"We just had all the ducts and returns cleaned."

"You can get to everything real easy.  We had a new door installed last year."

In doing this one I noticed that I didn't even scratch the surface.  I guess that means you'll be seeing more of these pretty soon.

I'm sure in different locales with different inspectors there are many, many more.

Jack Gilleland

Home Inspection and Investor Services, Clayton

I recently did an inspection for a couple in southern Ohio.  A beautiful home that fit there needs well.  The home had one interesting feature that turned me green with envy.

On the lower level it had the Horseshoe.  No not a horseshoe, "The Horseshoe".

This is the entry to the OSU room.  It isn't a mural, it is all hand painted.

Imagine someone sitting down and deciding to do a whole room like this.

I enjoyed the experience completely.  Even if you aren't an OSU fan you have to appreciate the determination.  It took 2 years to do according to the plaque that was attached to the wall under the scoreboad.

Jack Gilleland

Home Inspection and Investor Services, Clayton

When a Home Inspector writes a report or takes notes for a report he usually begins the same way each time.  I know I do.  I start outside with the roof and work my way down and around the house. Taking everything in stride no matter what you may find.  Oh, you might look at something and shake your head, snap a couple extra photos, and even write a cute (using the term loosely) little anecdote in the margins.  But all in all home inspectors that have been doing it for a while take most things in stride.

When one downspout is missing, you report it and go on to the next item.  In the picture to the left there are 2 downspouts missing within 6' of each other.  Okay, maybe that isn't unusual enough to raise an eyebrow, or maybe just one eyebrow.  I noted these on the report an went on around the house to the right.

As I proceeded around the front I noted the other side had been taken off too.  Then (in the photo to the left) I saw the fourth incident of the same thing.  All of the downspouts were missing so far and I only needed one more to make it unanimous.  As I rounded the back corner there it was 5 of a kind.  Someone needs a little downspout and gutter work.

             Jack Gilleland

Did you ever see a 3 pipe or 4 pipe water system?  Well, it is more common than you think.

Let's see 3 pipes.  What could they be hot, cold, and (hmmmm) warm?  Could it be hot, cold, and very cold?  That would be nice, wouldn't it.  Well, normally it isn't either of those things.  Then what about these third or even fourth pipes? Maybe the plumber had some left over pipe (yeah that's it)?

Actually, I find these real common in larger houses 40+ years old.  The third and fourth pipes could be several things, but most commonly they are either hot water recirculating lines or well water lines.

If a home is large and the water heating equipment is located far from the end fixture (usually a bath tub or lavatory/bath sink) then an extra line is run back to the water heater to facilitate less time getting hot water to the fixture.  If you have to wait 30 seconds or more for the water to turn hot at the faucet you'll appreciate this one.

The third or fourth line (as the case may be) could also be a well water line.  Many homes that switched from a well to city water retained the well for outside faucets (sill cocks).  Why did they do this?  Easy, don't have to pay the city for watering the lawn or washing the car. 

If you should see water lines numbering 3 or 4 don't think you can abandon one or two of them, they just might serve a purpose.

Jack Gilleland

Home Inspection Services, Clayton

What are the things that you don't know about your home? They are all the important things that you don't know are important until you need to know them.  Now is that clear to everyone. 

How many of us want beautiful ceramic tile in our bathrooms.  I know I do and have done it several times.  My better half wants me to do it again in the shared bath upstairs.  This bath is one that hasn't been touched yet and is in need of remodeling.  Since this was the kids bath I tried to stay away from it as if it were cursed (maybe it was). 

When you tackle laying a ceramic floor you must have all your plans and layouts ready BEFORE you start.  Don't even take up the old surface until you have everything in order, all materials and tools.  Your local home improvement store will have project planners for you to go by.  I've seen them and there not too bad.  But one thing was left out of the ones I saw.

The toilet presents a problem for most DIYers because it sits on the floor, the old/existing floor.  Well here you are in the process of raising the floor by at least a 1/4 and maybe as much as 1/2 an inch.  That more than likely will cause the toilet to leak.  But don't fret, there is a s

                                                                                                                                                           This little gadget will raise the toilet enough so the new tile will not prevent it from making a good seal.  For what it does the price is not bad either, 2 - 4 dollars. 

August must be roof month, or this is roof week, or something like that.  Don't know what happened, maybe I missed the annoucement.  But not to be outdone I decided I'd throw my 2 cents in the pot.

My worst roof is a standout that has no competition in my history of inspections.  This is one that even the most hardy and fearless inspector wouldn't attempt.  It is only a one story house in the front, but in back (with the walkout basement) it is a full 3 stories tall.  

Here is the front of what seems to be a nice (if old and somewhat neglected) little bungalow.  Built in the early 1900's on the side of a steep hill it is deceptive at best.  

Unfortunately, it needed much more work than most people were willing to put into it and as far as I know it is still sitting as you see it now.

The next photo gives you some idea of challenge it presents to inspectors and even roofers.  Not that it has much chance of leaking, the water doesn't stay on the roof long enough to penetrate even the holes that are prevalent.

 Maybe we could get the home inspectors that see this to post some photos of their worst roofs.

Jack Gilleland

Home Inspection Services, Clayton

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First time I've used this picture, at the insistance of my granddaughter. May not use it again.  She did put my glasses on and fix my hair for me.  Thanks Lexie.

When I did this inspection - the first time - I noted the information from the outside AC unit and actually checked wiring and coil.  Then since it was to cold to start the AC I moved on not knowing, or suspecting I would do another inspection on this house.

Recently, I was asked to do another inspection and this is the picture of the outside AC unit from that inspection.  Knowing that I had inspected the house before I did a double take.  

Want a good reason why you can't use an old inspection report for a new buyer.  Here it is.  The thieves/vandals did a good job ruining this condensing unit, they even took the wire from the disconnect to the unit controls.

Jack Gilleland

Home Inspection Services, Clayton

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