Jack Gilleland Home Inspection Services

Your Report, Helpful or Just Confusing?

Jack Gilleland (Home Inspection and Investor Services, Clayton) — Mon, 12 Mar 2012 11:56:19 -0700

I'm Only Here to Report the Facts.

Jack Gilleland (Home Inspection and Investor Services, Clayton) — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 15:59:28 -0800

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

Pride in Our Work

Jack Gilleland (Home Inspection and Investor Services, Clayton) — Thu, 15 Dec 2011 16:30:23 -0800

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

Since the Holidays are Upon us

Jack Gilleland (Home Inspection and Investor Services, Clayton) — Wed, 14 Dec 2011 16:50:56 -0800

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

Things you don't want to hear at an inspection.

Jack Gilleland (Home Inspection and Investor Services, Clayton) — Thu, 01 Dec 2011 12:52:11 -0800

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

Different kind of Horseshoe

Jack Gilleland (Home Inspection and Investor Services, Clayton) — Tue, 29 Nov 2011 14:54:52 -0800

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

It's 12:45 and Where is Your Downspout

Jack Gilleland (Home Inspection and Investor Services, Clayton) — Fri, 19 Aug 2011 01:57:09 -0700

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

Jack Gilleland Home Inspection Services

Your Report, Helpful or Just Confusing?

I'm Only Here to Report the Facts.

Pride in Our Work

Since the Holidays are Upon us

Things you don't want to hear at an inspection.

Different kind of Horseshoe

It's 12:45 and Where is Your Downspout

Things to know about your home. 11

Things to know about your home. 10

Inspectors Worst Roofs

It was there just a minute ago.

As I Prepare to Make the Leap, Again Part 2.5.

As I Prepare to Make the Leap, Again Part 2.

As I Prepare to Make the Leap Again.

Just throw it anywhere.

With Love and Thanks

Sweat Is Free

This is the Throne and This is the Throne Room

I Leave My Card Everywhere.

Changing the Report - Another opinion and finally a draft.

DIY -Be Careful of This Project

Changing the Report - Do's and Don'ts

Changing the Report

New Owners Get Lucky, well, sort of.

Things to know about your home. 9