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sherlock homes inspections: 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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sherlock homes inspections: 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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sherlock homes inspections: 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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sherlock homes inspections: 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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sherlock homes inspections: 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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sherlock homes inspections: My ABSOLUTE favorite Saving Tip EVER!!! - 11/17/10 10:19 AM
With the econony (and many real estate markets) performing, ummm let's say "slugglishly" to be polite, I am all about saving money!
OK, truth be told, it's my wife that is the saving nut and I'm just along for the ride. I don't mind saviung money (who does?) but I don't want it to painful, or feel like I'm living in the Great Depression (although for some, it is!) And, if you have ever met me, you probably have guessed that I enjoy a good meal - especially my favorite: Food Someone Else Made for Me!!
So, when my wife suggested … (4 comments)
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sherlock homes inspections: 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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sherlock homes inspections: 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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sherlock homes inspections: Mold and Asbestos and Lead, Oh My! - 04/05/09 08:22 AM
Heading Off Environmental Concerns
Other scary words that have been known to spook buyers include:
Mold Asbestos Lead But each of these can be addressed with buyers long before an inspection if you recognize it for what it is and discuss the solutions with them. Quite frankly, some people are just panicked about these issues and no amount of education will get them past it - but at least you can present these issues before the bid is placed with a little observation and know-how.
MOLD:
If you see it, if you smell it - you have it.
Testing (which can … (2 comments)
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sherlock homes inspections: Why ALL Condo buyers should read the Association meeting minutes BEFORE buying - 04/07/08 11:12 AM
I know it goes beyond the scope of a traditional home inspection, but I like to include some value added services for my clients. I have mentioned before about little things I do like Appliance Recall Research, but a news story on the Local Fox station last night reinforced for me the importance of urging condo buyers to obtain and READ the meeting minutes from as many recent meetings of the Condo Association as they have access to.
The video is attached (gross out alert - it deals with raw sewage). In short, the condo owners pay over $160 per month to the Association … (7 comments)
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sherlock homes inspections: Since you asked....my MeMe - 01/17/08 07:34 AM
I have been tagged by Andrew to write my first Me-Me (OK, I was tagged about a month ago, but I'm finally getting back to blogging just now!) To borrow from Jason Sardi, I have added a soundtrack that will put you in the right frame of mind for reading this.
I am a beach bum at heart, trapped in frigid temperatures of Philadelphia (at least for now) for reasons I don't understand and certainly can't explain. Or, in the words of my patron saint, Jimmy Buffett, "I've got a Caribbean soul I can barely control...." One day, I will rule my … (8 comments)
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sherlock homes inspections: Top 5 Holiday Accidents/Disasters - 12/05/07 05:53 PM
As a Home Inspector, I admit I am a bit more uptight about home safety than most people.
No, my kids don't wear crash helmets in the bathtub, and I don't have bumpers on all sharp edges or anything. But I do try to take care to make my home (and those I inspect) a little safer in a common sense, everyday-use kind of way.
With the holidays coming, most people's thoughts turn to family, gifts, decorating, and good times. Ok, mine do, too. But all the while, lurking right below the surface, is the nagging awareness that there are so many … (6 comments)
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sherlock homes inspections: I know the published stats - what is your experience with the market recently? - 11/29/07 02:01 PM
Everyone has seen the statistics about the "softness" in the market. If you missed it somehow, USA Today has another article today which shows sale prices at March 2005 levels, and shows 13 month trends which show a steady decline in sales, and illustrate that sales have dropped 250,000 (nationally) for October 2007, compared to October 2006.
As a home inspector, my business is at least partially dependant on these market trends. I do my best to be excellent so that I am insulated from such cycles, but even with good marketing and attention to detail, the market still makes a noticeable impact.
So, … (6 comments)
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sherlock homes inspections: Thanksgiving Myths - 11/20/07 11:14 PM
If your house is anything like mine, you are already at DEFCON 2, as all efforts are redirected to supplying the picture-perfect Thanksgiving dinner for friends and family.
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) isn't exactly what we thought it was.
Myth #1:
The pilgrims had a bountiful feast with turkey, cranberries, breads, etc....
Actually, all we know for sure that they ate was deer and "wild fowl." It is likely that they had dried corn and fruit … (6 comments)
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sherlock homes inspections: Vampire Appliances and Saving Energy (and Money) - 11/18/07 09:59 PM
Since I was little, I remember my dad running around behind us, turning off lights grumbling, "Does someone own stock in the Electric Company?!" (I'll leave the discussion of how the concept of owning stock is lost on 6 year olds for another time).
I forgot all about that until I began using a home office for my inspection business (about 4 years ago). Somehow, I overlooked the fact that being home all day, running appliances, using lights, etc, would increase my bills.
Now, I am that guy. Holiday lights aside (my house is only slightly less gaudy than Chevy Chase's in "Christmas … (4 comments)
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sherlock homes inspections: Putting my Money Where My Mouth (and Heart) Is - 11/13/07 12:19 PM
It has been a long time coming, but I am proud to announce that as of January 2008, a new non-profit organization focused on child and household safety in Southeastern PA, will open its doors.
The PA Home Safety Council has been a pet project of mine since I opened my doors as a home inspector 4 years ago. Our mission is to provide free and low-cost services designed to improve safety in the home for those who need it most: single parents, low income families, and senior citizens.
As an inspector, I am all too familiar with conditions in homes … (3 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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