Ya' know...  one of the tougher parts of this job has been insuring that every Client gets the opportunity to read and fill out an inspection agreement (http://pwcinspsvc.googlepages.com/InspectionAgreementHighlited.pdf). 

I try to insure that each client knows to go to my web site, read one over, fill it in, sign it and fax it back.  I'm surprised at how many clients don't send one back and don't show up at the inspection with one.  Or, they return it un-signed.  Then they are surprised to find out that without it... there will be no inspection. 

We (I) get a lot of flack about the language used (probably because I go over it with them "word-for-word").  There is a lot of misunderstanding about the reason for it.

As a small business owner I would be nuts to operate a service business and not have a signed agreement from all parties as to what the service did and did not include.  I would be risking my families home every time I did an inspection.  As for my insurance provider... they will not cover the inspection if I do not have a signed inspection agreement.

Inspection agreements... can't live with'em, can't survive in business without 'em.

It's Good to be Me!

PWC

Water, Water, Water...

I get asked this question all the time and I think folks are a little surprised when I answer "Water".

Go outside and look at your roof.  Now imagine an inch of rain falls in the next 20 minutes.  Where will all that water go?  You better hope it falls into the gutter, down the down-pipe, out the 6 foot extension and away, away away.  Remember, water will not run uphill.  If it puddles in your yard then it will make its way to your foundation.  You won't see it, but below the surface it will be applying pressure to your foundation walls.  That innocent looking horizontal crack in your tuck-under garage is most likely a bowed wall just crying for support.

Things that make me shake my head...

• Finding down spout extensions in the attic.
• "You can do it. We can help" electrical projects.
• "You can do it. We can help" plumbing projects.
• "You can do it. We can help" decks.
• Furnace filters that look like original equipment.
• Attics with boxes.
• Wood burning anythings.
• Young couples buying old homes.

Take care of your home and it will take care of you.