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nashville home inspectors: Fuse Boxes - Are They Safe? - 02/10/12 04:11 AM
Fuse Boxes - Are They Safe? Many older properties still have fuse boxes. While, these antiquated devices are okay, fuse panels, unless altered can be deemed safe. I consult my clients to consider replacing these with modern devices. Here's why: Older style fuse boxes serve the same purpose as circuit breaker boxes in that the fuse controls the amount of electrical current from appliances within a home. However; fuse boxes are outdated by modern standards. The advantage to having circuit breakers in a home is that instead of replacing a fuse each time it is used, circuit … (24 comments)
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nashville home inspectors: Diehl Killerz ~ Blue Lagoon... - 12/10/11 07:17 AM
Diehl Killerz ~ Blue Lagoon... Well after much much ado, Big Diehl, Flubber and the adventures of Diehl Killerz makes its debut. This and ensuing episodes were designed to make a parody of the serious business of home inspecting. The whole purpose was to make folks aware that not everything that shows up in home inspection world is the dreaded "Deal Killer". Look for more episodes of Diehl Killerz and my mad marketing to come to a blog close to you sometime in the not too distant future... I hope you enjoy the pilot...
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nashville home inspectors: Plastic Dryer Vents... - 10/20/11 04:42 AM
Plastic Dryer Vents... Plastic dryer venting has been banned from residential usage for several years now. However; I still run into this material when doing inspections of older properties. This material is a fire safety hazard and needs to be replaced if you have this present in your home. Optimally, a rigid duct is preferred, but if that is not feasible, a heavy gauge, flexible metal duct would be my second choice. The thin wall flexible metal tubing sold by the big box stores, would be my last choice. Although accepted by most municipalities, I have seen where this material … (48 comments)
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nashville home inspectors: Take the Money and Run... - 10/01/11 05:54 AM
Take the Money and Run... It is not uncommon to have large, hail producing thunderstorms roll through the Middle Tennessee area. On occasions, some of these storms produce hail stones large enough to damage roof shingles and siding. While we have not had any real bad storms this year, we have had several of them the past few years. While inspecting a property in an area of known hail damaged roofs, I was taken by surprise to still see a hail damaged roof in this particular subdivision. Usually when a disaster like this hits an area, the insurance companies … (53 comments)
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nashville home inspectors: WDO's... - 09/21/11 05:40 AM
WDO's...
Unlike as in some states, home inspectors in the State of Tennessee do not have to be licensed for pest control and are not required to put the presence of WDO's (Wood Destroying Organisms) in their report unless physical damage has occurred. However; when inspecting a property, I do keep an eye out for these little critters that can literally eat you out of house and home and report accordingly. While inspecting the crawl space in a property in the Spring Hill area of southern Williamson County, TN, I came across several shelter tubes indicating active WDO's. Why?There … (35 comments)
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nashville home inspectors: Things that Go BOOM in the Night... - 08/23/11 05:58 AM
Things that Go BOOM in the Night... Gas is one of those commodities we bring into our homes, and like electricity, we take them for granted. Homeowners and sometimes service personnel often neglect simple safety features - that is until things go BOOM!!! in the night. The property was no stranger to inspectors, having been inspected twice by two other local companies. As the reports were lying on the counter, I had to snoop. Much to my amazement, neither had anything to say about this potentially unsafe condition. Even though there is a gas shut-off installed, shut-off valves can … (26 comments)
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nashville home inspectors: 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 inspectors: 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 inspectors: 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 inspectors: Has Your Pot Gone to Pot? - 07/20/11 05:25 AM
Has Your Pot Gone to Pot? Having been in the home inspecting business for over a decade, nothing really surprises me anymore. Seen it. Probed it. Wrote it. There are, however, some things that would seem to me that the average home owner would take note of. <sigh> But they don't. One of the more common issues I find in properties is with the china --- facility that is. Most folks sit, use, flush and get on with life. Loose toilets and leaking wax flange seals can literally eat you out of house and home. The nutrients in Black Water … (42 comments)
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nashville home inspectors: You've Got to be Kidding Me... - 06/28/11 05:48 AM
You've Got to be Kidding Me... One of the things that makes for a good home inspector is exceptional bedside manners. By this I mean just staying calm and collected no matter what one encounters. Believe me, I have seen stuff that just makes me want to scratch my head with a pick axe. In the "You've Got to be Kidding Me" department, comes this interesting little diddy I ran into yesterday while inspecting a "Flipper". My first impression was, "Oh, this is a CO detector." Wrong! This be a smoke detector. Guess where the CO detector was? I'll give … (30 comments)
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nashville home inspectors: Friday's Fotos... - 04/22/11 05:35 AM
Friday's Fotos...Sometimes, the photography gods smile and I get lucky. IMHO, photography boils down to: 10% skill. i.e. knowing which end of the camera points in which direction. 05% subject matter. I, like many of you, have been to places and events we all want to capture. "Click". 15% inspiration. There are times, when inspired, I go to a spacial, timeless place in my mind. Driven by passion and inspiration, I feebly attempt to capture the essence.The rest is pure unadulterated luck!!! Being at the right place at the right time under the right conditions. There are times when the god's … (41 comments)
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nashville home inspectors: AS IS... - 03/29/11 05:47 AM
AS IS… AS a home inspector, there is no phrase in the English language that instills more dread in my heart and soul than when I hear my customer say, "Oh yeah. We're buying the property AS IS." Now, the tricky part IS, what IS the definition of "IS"? Does "IS" mean that the property IS in okay condition? - Good bones but a lot of cosmetic issues, bumps, busies normal wear and tear or IS it ready to have an encounter of the third kind by some run-away bulldozer? What ever the case, these inspections can be either a piece … (38 comments)
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nashville home inspectors: Puzzled? Whom Do You Choose? - 11/11/10 05:45 AM
Puzzled? Whom Do You Choose? Finding the right home inspector in today's challenging Brentwood, Franklin and Nashville real estate market doesn't need to be all that puzzling. Whom do you turn to for accurate, dependable service for all your home inspection needs in the Nashville, TN area? The answer is elementary ol' chap...
Choose the professionals at Complete Home Inspections, Inc. Nashville, TN's #1 home inspection company. Pick up the phone and call us today! We've already set the speed dial for you. How's that for service? Complete Home Inspections, Inc.The Guys with the Hats...615.661.0297 ©2010 Michael Thornton | Complete … (16 comments)
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nashville home inspectors: Monday Morning Motivator & Some Points to Ponder... - 11/08/10 05:03 AM
Monday Morning Motivator & Some Points to Ponder...“Follow effective action with quiet reflection. From the quiet reflection will come even more effective action.” ~Peter F. Drucker The constant din and clamor of our workaday world can be deafening both physically and spiritually. Only when we are able to find a place of solitude and turn off the the noise, can we reflect on our many blessings not our misfortunes. Seeing from within changes our vision. Seeing ourselves as we want to be is one of the keys to personal growth. Listen carefully to your inner thoughts...
Complete Home Inspections, … (30 comments)
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nashville home inspectors: (not so) Speechless Wednesday ~ Autumn - 10/13/10 05:41 AM
(not so) Speechless Wednesday ~ Autumn...Autumn. A time when trees magically transform into an array of colors. There is something about these fascinating changes that alter our sense of reality and leaves us spellbound. Like Alice, we get lost in a world of surreal sights and images that only this season can conjour. That is, if we but allow the season to work its wizardry.Mundane scenes that would not get a second glance, have gone through a metamorphosis to become eye candy for the soul and images to share. Is there any other season that inflames such enchanting displays of sights, … (24 comments)
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nashville home inspectors: Fridays Fotos... - 07/16/10 06:32 AM
Fridays Fotos... What's there not to like about flowers ~~ flying or otherwise? The zinnia patch is in full bloom with an array of colors that would tantalize any artist's pallet. I dig watching the flying flowers flit from blossom to blossom, seemingly not a care in the world, slurping the bounty that has been spread before them. It's really cool to step back from it all, take a few moments to enjoy the fruits of one's labors and soak it all in. Slowly, inhale, now exhale. Slowly inhale...
Okay, that's long enough! Time to hit it... Complete Home Inspections/Complete … (26 comments)
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nashville home inspectors: Inspection Photo of the Day... - 05/22/10 06:32 AM
Inspection Photo of the Day... Today, we feature another tip from the nationally acclaimed master of DIY, Unhandy Andy, host of the hit TV show for all those weakended warriors, "You CAN Do It Yourself". I had one of my loyal viewers write: Andy, my significant other says that I am lazy and do things half-a$$ed. We purchased a new dryer and we thought that we would upgrade the exhaust duct and recycle the heat to the garage. Every time she looks at this, she just rolls her eyes and gives some snide remark. I don't understand her attitude. - … (21 comments)
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nashville home inspectors: Inspection Photo of the Day... - 04/13/10 07:54 AM
Inspection Photo of the Day... I feel sorry for some folks. Having to write about the same ol' same ol' day in and day out. Having to come up with new and different material every day has to be challenging. Home inspectors are really lucky. We never run out of things to write about. All we need to do is look through the pictures of our last job and "Voila". Another blog post. Thankfully, there are enough unhandy handymen out in the real world to earn us a living and keep us amused. I do not see anything that is … (29 comments)
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nashville home inspectors: (not so) Wordless Wednesday... - 03/24/10 05:28 AM
(not so) Wordless Wednesday... Common sense. Is it that bowl of pennies that sets next to the cash register in the jiffy mart? (give a penny - take a penny) Is it that intellectual prowess that God gave a common goose? Is it something that some folks were born with and some without? One would hope that the species homo-sapien would have more common sense than the genus anser, but sometimes I wonder? So the question of the day just may be, if the genus, man, is so smart, maybe we can all put our collective mindset together to … (18 comments)
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Michael Thornton - Nashville, TN area Home Inspector - 615.661.0297
Brentwood,
TN
More about me…
Complete Home Inspections, Inc.
Address: 7105 Crossroads Blvd; Ste 102, Brentwood, TN, 37027
Office Phone: (615) 661-0297
Cell Phone: (615) 473-8803
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