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philadelphia home inspection: Star Bolts...They Aren't Just Decoration! - 02/08/11 06:08 PM
You’ve probably seen these cool metal stars on old brick houses and thought they were just a quaint decoration. The truth is that they are often much more than that.
Bulging or bowing in brick walls is common throughout the Philadelphia region, especially on 3 story rowhomes. Star bolts are one less-expensive way to avoid completely rebuilding the wall.
Our problem starts in the mortar used to hold the bricks together.
Unlike more modern mortar (Portland cement mixtures), the lime mortar that was used pre-1920 (or so) is subject to dissolving when contacted by moisture or water, weakening the mortar and … (47 comments)
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philadelphia home inspection: Going the Extra Mile (or at least another 30 Feet) For My Clients - 01/31/11 09:10 AM
You may have noticed - it's winter.
Here in the Philadelphia area that means that we have a layer of perma-snow covering everything. I can't remember what it looked like without it.
It impacts EVERYthing. Fewer parking spaces, horrible street conditions even a week after the snow which alter bus routes and create horrid traffic....
And, snow covered roofs which means limitations on Philadelphia home inspections.
Many times, we do not inspect the roof, simply because we can't see it or it is just plain too dangerous to attempt to.
That said, for flat roofs or roofs where I think I … (38 comments)
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philadelphia home inspection: Home Inspection "Ground Rules" - 01/13/11 12:17 PM
A West Coast inspector who I respect a lot recently posted about when clients can expect to receive their inspection reports, and it got me to thinking about the common questions clients usually have for me.
Aside from prices (which I post online and will address in a future blog), the most popular questions are:
“Can I attend the inspection?” (Of course!)
“Who is allowed to be there?” (Anyone you want)
“Can we follow you around and ask questions?” (That’s why we’re here!)
“Do I need to make notes?” (It will all be in your report)
“When do … (6 comments)
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philadelphia home inspection: The Heart of Philly - the Rowhouse (a FREE homeowner's manual) - 01/10/11 09:08 PM
About half of my clients are buying Philadelphia rowhomes or twins. For reasons that only Philly natives can understand, that makes me feel great.
I grew up in those rowhomes. The first home I bought was a Philly rowhome. My daughter's first home was a Port Richmond rowhome. And I have renovated them, tearing them right down to the studs, rock wool insulation, and knob and tube wiring.
For over 8 years, I have inspected hundreds of Philadelphia rowhomes and have intentionally kept my prices low so that first time buyers (like I was) who are living the dream and buying … (5 comments)
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philadelphia home inspection: Referrals - You Never Know Who's Watching You - 12/01/10 09:07 AM
"He knows if you've been bad or good..."
As a kid, I was always a little creeped out by the thought that Santa "sees you when you're sleeping" but I aprreciate the general spirit of the idea that he's always watching, so you need to be on your best behavior.
It really is something that has carried through well into my adult life. Call it the Golden Rule, or karma, or just simple professionalism - but the idea of doing your best and treating everyone right, regardless of their standing or situation, is a core beliefe of mine.
After my last … (1 comments)
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philadelphia home inspection: Can you trust your Realtor or your Inspector? - 11/26/10 03:18 PM
It's been bothering me for weeks now.
I got into an online exchange (or maybe it was a spirited debate, no - I think this qualified as an argument) with another inspector about a very basic concept.
Specifically, it was his core belief that Realtors are all money hungry bastards whom buyers shouldn't trust, and any inspector referred by a Realtor is a corrupt puppet who also isn't to be trusted. (Ok, I am paraphrasing there, but that is the gist of it).
Needless to say, since my wife is a Realtor and I am a Home Inspector, I got pretty … (196 comments)
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philadelphia home inspection: Energy (and $$) Saving Tips for Winter - 11/20/10 01:17 PM
Winter is here. And, as always, oil prices are expected to rise continuously in coming months, so I thought I might report some winterization tips and tricks.
With energy prices on the rise, no matter what method you use to heat your home (well, except maybe solar and geothermal) it is sure to cost more to heat your home this year than it did last. Most of us can probably expect monthly energy bills between $300-500 for the colder months.
With that in mind, let me offer some hope! 10 quick tips to help to you save some money (as much … (7 comments)
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philadelphia home inspection: ALERT: Jury Rules That CSST Is A Defective Product In Landmark Cas - 11/18/10 02:21 PM
I just saw this (excellent original post by Reuben) and thought to share it with everyone. In my experience CSST is the ONLY kind of gas tubing I have seen installed in new construction for going on 5 years now (maybe longer!!)
This could be a real concern going forward, and is something to consider if you are building a home ir have clients buying new construction.
Via Minneapolis Home Inspections - Reuben Saltzman (Structure Tech Home Inspections):
This is bad news for the manufacturers of Corrugated Stainless Steel Tubing (CSST). CSST is a relatively new type of gas piping … (0 comments)
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philadelphia home inspection: Thanksgiving Myths (or "Don't Stress Over Sweet Potatoes") - 11/18/10 02:15 PM
It's just one week until Thanksgiving, and already the planning among friends and family has reached silly proportions. Dinner times have been changed, travel plans made (then changed, then changed back) and trying to assign everyone something to bring and getting them here on time - well, that's a fools errand from the start!!
In an effort to inject some sanity (and hopefully entertainment) into the preparation, I thought it might help to remind ourselves that Thanksgiving (or at least the first Thanksgiving) wasn't exactly what we thought it was.
Myth #1:
The pilgrims had a bountiful feast with turkey, cranberries, breads, etc....
Actually, all … (0 comments)
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philadelphia home inspection: How to Pick A Home Inspector - 11/17/10 01:15 PM
It seems like I have been answering one question a lot on different forums lately, so I thought it might be time to revive this blog about How To Hire A Home Inspector.
There seem to be a lot of First Time Buyers who are unsure of how to go about getting a home inspection, whom to trust, and exactly what they should be looking for in an inspector.
25 years ago, a home inspection was a rare thing, and professional home inspectors were few and far between. Now, nearly every buyer knows that they should get an inspection, and there are … (5 comments)
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philadelphia home inspection: Energy Saving Tips for Winter - 11/30/09 11:32 AM
Winter is here. And, as always, oil prices are expected to rise continuously in coming months, so I thought I might report some winterizations tips and tricks.
With energy prices on the rise, no matter what method you use to heat your home (well, except maybe solar and geothermal) it is sure to cost more to heat your home this year than it did last. Most of us can probably expect monthly energy bills between $300-500 for the colder months.
With that in mind, let me offer some hope! 10 quick tips to help to you save some money (as much … (3 comments)
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philadelphia home inspection: Checklist - What to Look for BEFORE the Home Inspection - 04/06/09 10:06 PM
Since many deals seem to be falling through before getting to closing, I thought I would offer a quick checklist of items that Realtors can use to "pre-inspect" the home during their showings or pre-bid walkthroughs.
This is not to suggest that Realtors suddenly start doing the job of inspectors (hey - I LIKE my job!) but it IS a way for you to begin to set your clients expectations for a home before the inspection...and even before submitting a bid!
The following is not a complete or exhaustive list, but does give you a pretty good starting point for potential problems … (5 comments)
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philadelphia home inspection: More rare than the Hope Diamond - an HONEST Roofer! - 04/24/08 05:32 PM
Today I will go out and play Powerball, Mega Millions, and hit the tables in AC all night because all the stars have aligned. It has finally happened.
I HAVE FOUND AN HONEST ROOFER!
It's true. I know what you are all saying: "There is no such thing. It's a myth like the Easter Bunny, Leprechauns, and Elvis" (He was real? Really?)
On Friday, I got a call from a client who felt he was being swindled by not one, but TWO roofing companies, and he wanted an independent inspection to find out just what the heck was going on with his 10 year … (4 comments)
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philadelphia home inspection: But it's Brand New! Why do I need it inspected? - 03/12/08 10:41 PM
I think the general consensus seems to be that all buyers should have a full home inspection.
But lately, I have heard that many builders (and even some agents - gasp!) have suggested to their clients that the Builder's Warranty is good enough and an inspection is overkill (or a waste of money).
Now, I will grant you that I am a bit biased, BUT.... There are SOOOOO many reasons why an inspection is critical, even for new construction.
All Builders are not Created Equal - Some use better materials and methods than others. Here, Pulte likes to use finger jointed lumber comprised of scrap lumber … (7 comments)
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philadelphia home inspection: Why You Should Write Your Goals Down - 11/27/07 10:56 PM
Before long, we will all be making our resolutions (for me, these are also called "Those Pledges I Make To Be a Better Me That I forget About By February").
Sure, lots of us would like to lose weight, or be more successful, or reach other personal goals - but it isn't as easy as just saying you want to do it.
Well, actually, it IS almost that easy!
It turns out that one key element in helping you reach these goals is something so simple, we take it for granted: WRITE THEM DOWN!
Yep. That's it - my big secret to success.
Writing things … (11 comments)
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Joseph Michalski - PA Home Inspector
Souderton,
PA
More about me…
Sherlock Homes Inspections
Office Phone: (215) 620-5308
Cell Phone: (215) 620-5308
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Honest answers and advice to consumers and other Real Esate professionals from the area's top home inspector.
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