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nashville home inspection: Color Coordinating... - 02/14/12 03:14 PM
Color Coordinating... Every now and then I run across a home owner who likes to color coordinate. While color coordinating is okay, there are some things, such as outlets, that should be left alone. This is definitely not a good idea and especially when it comes to GFCI outlets. When these are painted over, the paint will often jam the mechanical test and reset buttons. If the buttons are jammed, the device may fail to trip resulting you going z-z-z-zt, which is not a good thing! I consider these a safety hazard and I recommend replacing the device.This … (80 comments)
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nashville home inspection: If There's a Will... - 08/20/11 02:00 PM
<Sigh> If There's a Will... In the "If there's a will there's a way" department, some folks are absolute "Ine-Steins". I often get an opportunity to see things I wish I hadn't. Leave it to the home unhandy, fixer-me-upper to come up with some "in-Gene-yus" ways to do what defiles all accepted trade practices. After all, it only a half a case of home-brew to "figger" out this concoction. <sigh> Well, if you don't succeed the first time, there's always more duct tape…
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nashville home inspection: The Cheapest Fix Isn't Always the Best... - 08/20/11 06:05 AM
The Cheapest Fix Isn't Always the Best... There is something about inspecting older, more experienced properties. Talk about hitting the mother load of blog fodder. No rehashed BPO's, short sales, market reports, and what have you here. Just pure, unadulterated fodder that does the blog good! In this vintage property, the HVAC system has gone through at least a zillion upgrades. In upgrades, where permits have not been pulled, contractors often take short cuts in order to save a few dollars. And let's face it, duct tape is one of those things that a HVAC contractor doesn't leave home without.
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nashville home inspection: Quit Peeing on My Floor... - 08/19/11 07:53 AM
Quit Peeing on My Floor... Let's face it, occasionally all of us at one time or other has had bladder control problem. Pressure builds up, a slight sneeze and... OOPS!!! How embarrassing. The same thing happens in your home's plumbing system. Pressure builds up in the storage tank, water valve gets turned off quickly and… Now, one could put a bucket under the valve extension or do something stupid like put a cork in it, but hopefully we ARE smarter than that. Odds are, the bladder in the expansion tank is either waterlogged or defective. Expansion tanks are … (18 comments)
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nashville home inspection: Oye Veh... - 08/18/11 05:54 AM
Oye Veh... Sloppy is as sloppy does or at least that is what I have to say. And just because you can purchase something in a home improvement store, doesn't mean that it conforms to "codes" or acceptable trade practices either. First of all, there would be a strong argument that the contractors first job must have been in a meat packing plant - words can ere express the the quality of the butchering job on the cabinetry. The plumbing stops need to be readily accessible and operable. Well okay, they might if you have mighty small hands. … (40 comments)
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nashville home inspection: Make My Day, Kill a Watt ~ The Lines Are Drawn... - 09/24/10 07:30 AM
Make My Day, Kill a Watt ~ The Lines Are Drawn...
There comes a time in everyone's life where they have to draw a line in the sand and say, "Enough is enough!" TVA, NES and The Energy Hog Gang have been running rampant and are stealing me blind. A combination of my negligent use of energy, customer service charges imposed by the local power provider and fuel adjustment costs tacked on by TVA has prompted this customer to draw the line. Yesterday's post, Make My Day, Kill a Watt, was a knee-jerk reaction prompted by writing "the check". Just like … (15 comments)
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nashville home inspection: Training Your Water... - 08/28/10 07:58 PM
Training Your Water... Have you ever had to train your water to make it go the place you want to go? Any of you that have ever had to do this, knows how bothersome it really is. There's the cajoling method. "Come on. You can do it! Now jump!!! Atta Boy! Good!" followed by some sort of treat for good behavior. You can scold. "Bad water. Bad water. Shame on you for just pooling around..." But as we all know, water just seems to have a mind of it's own and will do what it wants. Even when we get some … (10 comments)
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nashville home inspection: Inspection Photo of the Day ~~ We'll Leave the Light on... - 04/27/10 04:29 AM
Inspection Photo of the Day ~~ We'll Leave the Light on...
When I first saw this while inspecting a rehab in Nashville, TN not too long back, I was reminded of a line from a ad that ran for several years on TV and radio. There are a few very obvious issues that most novices can point out such as the missing glass and those dreaded dangling participles.
What isn't so obvious though is the actual installation of the fixtre. Because this fixture is mounted on vinyl siding, there has to be a weather proof mounting plate that … (20 comments)
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nashville home inspection: (not so) Speechless Sunday... - 04/25/10 04:20 AM
(not so) Speechless Sunday... I have met a lot of ladies in my life. Some, have been more memorable than others. However; there is one lady that I do not like to encounter no matter where I am. It seems as if this dark, dastardly darling shows up where you least expect. Needless to say, not being my style, I just widow shopped, and kept a movin'. I'm sure some dummy might get caught in her web...
Complete Home Inspections/Complete Video Promotions © 2010 michael thornton | complete home inspections, inc./complete video promotions | brentwood, tn | 615.661.0297 | www.completehomeinspectionsonline.com … (20 comments)
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nashville home inspection: Inspection Photo of the Day... - 04/23/10 04:16 AM
Inspection Photo of the Day... Decks can be great places to spend some quality time with the fam provided that they are well constructed and safe. Much to my chagrin, I find that home owner and unhandy-man construction practices often leave much to be desired. The chances folks take with their safety and the safety of their loved ones never ceases to amaze me. Kinda goes to show you what a few friends, consuming a few cases can concoct on a Saturday afternoon. I know, picky, picky ~~~ <sigh>...
For other posts in this series: Inspection Photo of the … (26 comments)
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nashville home inspection: Friday's Fotos - Don' Let Your Participle Dangle... - 03/26/10 06:17 AM
Friday's Fotos - Don' Let Your Participle Dangle......
Dangling participles! Dang how I hated to have the school m'arm ding me on that. Essay after essay, term paper after term paper, DING! DING! DING! If I was told once, I was told a thousand times, "Michael! Don't let your participles dangle." Lessons learned early on, seem to carry on all through your adult life. Having learned my lessons well, I no longer let my participles dangle. I guess this poor soul needed to have had a tougher school m'arm too. It looks as if this is about the … (27 comments)
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nashville home inspection: Just Because You Can Purchase it in a Hardware Store... - 03/18/10 06:55 AM
Just because you can purchase something in a hardware store does not mean that it complies with code. Many well intending home owners, weekend end warriors, and rehabbers, run into challenges. The solution? The Handy Dandy home improvement store! Where else? Home improvement stores are chock full of "EZ to fix" items that more often than not, do not comply with codes acceptable trade practices ~ No how, No way. This flexible coupling, which we often see in the plumbing section, is a quick fix for someone who flunked pre-requisites to "Plumbing 101". The lining of of … (26 comments)
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nashville home inspection: STOP!!! - 03/17/10 05:42 AM
STOP!!!
Older properties. Although they have a lot of charm, excellent craftsmanship, and have stood the test of time, they don't often have a lot of the conveniences that we often take for granted in newer construction. While inspecting an older property in the Nashville real estate market, I noticed that the basin fixtures did not have any water stops installed on the faucets. While not a "deal killer" the aggravation of having to go down to the meter base at the street to turn the water off, can be a real pain. Stop the aggravation. Having a … (14 comments)
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nashville home inspection: Electrocutions Waiting for a Place to Happen... - 03/16/10 06:00 AM
Electrocutions Waiting for a Place to Happen...
It is not uncommon to see outlets in light fixtures older properties in the Nashville, TN real estate market. In about 99% of the cases, these outlets are not grounded and pose a potential health and safety risk to clients. Because Tennessee home inspection standards require inspectors to point out safety issues, I test every one of these outlets for wiring inconsistencies. While certainly not a deal killer, these unsafe outlets can be a client killer though. The fix is relatively simple. 1) Disconnect the outlet and install a GFCI outlet somewhere … (20 comments)
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nashville home inspection: We Don't Need a Home Inspection... - 03/04/10 10:14 AM
We Don't Need a Home Inspection...
These are oftentimes the famous last works for folks purchasing a new construction property. More often than not many folks purchasing new construction, often forgo this essential part of the purchase. The litany of reasons goes on and on. Most boil down to "blind faith" in the builder and codes inspection process. There comes a point in time when the property will be sold. Sellers often get a harsh dose of reality when the impartial home inspector reveals the hidden flaws that were overlooked during the construction process. Things that the building superintendent … (14 comments)
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nashville home inspection: Inspecting New Construction in the Nashville, TN Market... - 02/23/10 06:38 AM
Inspecting New Construction in the Nashville, TN Market... With the housing market recuperating from the slump, new homes sales are starting to increase. Many new home buyers forgo inspections on new homes because "they have been inspected by codes" and are in compliance. Yeah Right. I am still scratching my head on as why the "codes" department passed overlooked this one. The water heater in this new construction home in Brentwood, TN does not conform to trade standards. The pressure tank is missing, and the water heater is undersized for a 4-1/2 bedroom house with a whirlpool tub. … (16 comments)
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nashville home inspection: High Water Pressure... - 02/21/10 11:18 AM
High Water Pressure...
The Nashville real estate market, with its diverse blend of older and newer construction, can lend itself to some challenges to the home inspector. One of the items we check during is the water pressure. Older properties, that have the original plumbing system tend to have high water pressure. While this is not a "deal killer", we inform our clients of this issue.
Many home warranty companies will not honor claims if the water pressure exceeds 80psi. Also the higher pressure will wear out valves and washers quicker than houses that have a … (8 comments)
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nashville home inspection: Inspecting real estate in Nashville, TN... - 02/07/10 03:13 PM
Inspecting real estate in Nashville, TN... Electrical problems, both large and small, are sone of the issues that I find while inspecting properties in the Nashville real estate market. Other than the rust on the plug face, all looks well. The trained eye of the inspector not only focuses on the rust, but the burn mark on the upper left corner of the outlet. While not a "deal killer" when GFI (ground fault interrupter) outlets get burned, it is best to replace them to prevent future failures. Replacing this $20 item can be the difference between serious injury or … (14 comments)
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nashville home inspection: If it Doesn't Look Right, It Probably Isn't... - 02/07/10 03:37 AM
If it Doesn't Look Right, It Probably Isn't... Home inspectors are expected to be the know all, see all Swami. Kinda like "Mr. Know-It-All", they are expected to have an answer for everything and anything. Some do. I don't! Well meaning home owners and contractors often do things that might look right at the time without giving much, if any thought, to the consequences of their actions. While doing an inspection of a Nashville real estate listing, the garage area was converted to living space. The problems are many. 1) The floor joists are about 8 inches … (4 comments)
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nashville home inspection: Amateurs and Electricity - A Dangerous Mix... - 02/06/10 05:46 PM
Amateurs and Electricity - A Dangerous Mix... What is it about electricity and wiring that make amateurs think that they have the same skill set as a licensed electrician? Is is because there are so many DIY books and videos out there in the market place? I wonder if someone has produced a DIY video on how to extinguish electrical fires? Maybe this amateur electrician needs to watch it. This is certainly an electrical fire hazard just waiting for a place to happen...
Complete Home Inspections/Complete Video Promotions
© 2010 michael thornton | complete home inspections, inc./complete video promotions … (13 comments)
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Michael Thornton - Nashville, TN area Home Inspector - 615.661.0297
Brentwood,
TN
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Complete Home Inspections, Inc.
Address: 7105 Crossroads Blvd; Ste 102, Brentwood, TN, 37027
Office Phone: (615) 661-0297
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