home inspections: ActiveRain Members Quoted in The Washington Post - 04/29/17 08:38 AM
ActiveRain Members Quoted in The Washington Post
 
I was reading The Nation's Housing article by Kenneth R. Harney in today's issue of The Washington Post and noticed that ActiveRain blogger Scott Godzyk was quoted as he shared a deal-damaging home inspection experience. Diana Dahlberg was also quoted in this article.
Click here to read this timely article.
  
 Azaleas at the National Arboretum
Photograph by Roy Kelley
Roy and Dolores Kelley Photographs
(22 comments)

home inspections: Top Notch roofer, not so much. Give them the boot. - 04/27/14 11:18 PM

Give the roofer the boot
 
Clint Mckie is a constant source of home inspection stories and very good reasons to always recommend a professional home inspection.
Please go to the original blog if you wish to leave comments.
Top Notch roofer, not so much. Give them the boot.
I was at a home inspection yesterday. The agent told me that the home owner had the Hand hewn shake roof installed about three years ago.
"They come back every year and spray the roof with an insect and linseed oil spray to help protect the shingles"
Sounds like a great way … (6 comments)

home inspections: This Is What You And I See. And This Is What A Thermal Camera Sees! - 04/20/14 10:17 PM

This Is What You And I See. And This Is What A Thermal Camera Sees!
This blog by Northern Virginia professional home inspector Jay Markanich demonstrates the importance of using a thermal camera in home inspections. When you select a home inspector, you may wish to ask if he is going to be using a thermal camera.
Please go to the original blog if you wish to leave comments. 
 
This is what you and I see.
A pretty basement wall, in a flip, with new drywall, new receptacles, new floor molding and new carpeting.
This is what my clients saw … (2 comments)

home inspections: A Camera Can Sometimes See Where The Home Inspector Can't! - 04/20/14 10:03 PM

A Camera Can Sometimes See Where The Home Inspector Can't! Northern Virginia professional home inspector Jay Markanich demonstrates some creative use of a camera during a home inspection.
We always advise home buyers to have a professional home inspection. You do not want to have surprises after settlement has taken place.
Please go to the original blog if you wish to leave comment.
 
 
If spaces are impossible to get to and not visible to the home inspector, a camera can sometimes see where the home inspector can't!
On a recent flip I noticed the upper room of a Cape Cod, … (1 comments)

home inspections: Kentlands Community-wide Follow-Up Inspections Scheduled for May - 04/22/13 06:28 AM
Kentlands Community-wide Follow-Up Inspections Scheduled for May
 
The following notice as distributed by the Kentlands Citizens Assembly. A number of home owners receive notices of violations relating to maintenance issues earlier this year.  Now that spring weather has arrived, it is time to correct any exterior issues.  Obvious pride of ownership is one of the factors that makes Kentlands one of the preferred communities for families that are re-located to the metropolitan area of the District of Columbia.
Communitywide Inspection Services (CIS) will be conducting a second review of Kentlands properties with maintenance issues. Properties that received notification of items … (14 comments)

home inspections: Should you have a new construction home inspection? - 02/24/13 08:58 PM
Should you have a new construction home inspection?
Northern Virginia professional home inspector Jay Markanich provides some very good reasons to have a home inspector check the construction of your new home.  Look closely of these photographs of a new porch roof.
Please go to the original blog if you wish to leave comments that will be seen by Jay.


Orchids, Brookside Gardens IMG_6151
Photograph by Dolores Kelley using a Canon PowerShot S90 camera.
Roy and Dolores Kelley Photographs
I'm not sure why I continue to see this kind of work, the new construction front porch roof - shimmed … (3 comments)

home inspections: Getting Ready for the Home Inspection - 07/11/12 11:31 PM
Getting ready for the home inspection....
Professional home inspector Paul Duffau provides some practical tips for home sellers as they prepare for a home inspection.
Please go to the original blog if you wish to make comments that Paul will see.

Congratulations!  You have an offer on your home and the inspection date and time have been set.  Now, let’s try to make this work as easily as possible for everyone and have an inspection process that helps you get to a successful closing.
 
First, let’s take care of some basic maintenance issues that might distract from the inspection:
 
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home inspections: Home Inspections: more important now than ever - 05/26/12 09:04 PM
Home Inspections: more important now than ever Guest blog by Harvey S. Jacobs, from the Washington Post  Caveat emptor!
These two Latin words - which mean "let the buyer beware" - are taking on added significance in today's residential real estate market.
 
Recent changes to Washington area real estate forms have turned house sales into "as-is" propositions. Meaning the seller makes virtually no representations as to property condition. Thus, as a savvy home buyer, it is incumbent upon you to insist that your real estate agent include a well-thought-out inspection contingency strategy in your purchase offer and to have your prospective … (15 comments)

home inspections: Don't Let a Little Crack Delay Your Home Settlement - 01/27/12 05:51 AM
Cracked windows in homes under contract
Real estate appraiser and ActiveRain blogger Michael Bolton offers some practical advice for those that find cracked windows in homes that are under contract.
This issue can be more complicated for windows where individual panes cannot be replaced. Sometimes, the whole sash need to be first ordered to fit and then installed.
If you wish to make comments that Michael will see, please go to his original blog.
Be sure to have your camera in hand to capture those special moments when you are out and about.
White Orchids at Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden IMG_3338
Photograph by Roy Kelley
Roy and Dolores … (1 comments)

home inspections: Snake in Crawlspace - 11/23/11 04:02 AM
Home Inspection Tales
Washington home inspectior and ActiveRain blogger Donald Hester provides some more very good reasons for home inspections.  Every home buyer should request a professional home inspection.
Have a wonderful Thanksgiving holiday!

The Washington Daffodil Society 62nd Annual Daffodil Show at Brookside Gardens.
Roy and Dolores Kelley Photographs
Snake in Crawlspace- Chelan and Leavenworth Home Inspection Service
Crawlspaces are always a wonderful place to go. When you hire home inspector, hiring one that will take to time to properly evaluate this area is very important.
The home inspector should be checking every plumbing drop and the sill plate for … (2 comments)

home inspections: The WORST Home Inspections - 11/23/11 03:28 AM
Home Inspection Tales
New Hampshire real estate professional and ActiveRain blogger Scott Godzyk provides some funny but sad tales of incidents at home inspections.
Have a wonderful Thanksgiving holiday!

The Washington Daffodil Society 62nd Annual Daffodil Show at Brookside Gardens.
Roy and Dolores Kelley Photographs
Anyone who has been in Real Estate for any length of time will be able to tell you stories that can "wow" the most seasoned of agents. Being it Thanksgoving and the season of giving thanks... Here in the Southern NH area i have had a couple of home inspections you can be "Thankful" for that you did not … (0 comments)

home inspections: Home Inspections - 08/18/11 03:08 AM
Home Inspections
Nashville professional home inspector and ActiveRain blogger Michael Thornton provides another good reason for home buyers to request a home inspection in their contract.  It is very easy to miss some items that will instantly be identified by an experience home inspector.
We always advise home buyer clients to opt for a professional home inspection.
 Blooming for you!
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 … (0 comments)

home inspections: Things You Shouldn't Find In A Home Inspection - 05/05/11 01:24 AM
 
Our ActiveRain friend Rob Thomas provides a very good reminder that every home buyer should request a professional home inspection as part of the home purchase process.  Most of the time, serious conditions will not be discovered. However, when they are found, the cost of the needed corrections needs to be considered in the transaction.
 Blooming for home buyers!
Things You Shouldn't  Find In A Home Inspection #4

This was just one of many issues the home inspector found on this home! It just goes to show the extent that some people will go to try and fix a … (0 comments)

home inspections: You Can't See What You Can't See! Get A Pre-drywall Inspection! - 04/18/11 04:13 AM

Jay Markanich blogs on ActiveRain about home inspection issues. In this post he reminds home buyers to have a pre-drywall inspection if they are building a new home or are having a home addition. 
 Blooming for home buyers!
Should you get a pre-drywall inspection on new construction? 
YOU CAN'T SEE WHAT YOU CAN'T SEE!  GET A PRE-DRYWALL INSPECTION!
The drywall was to go up that afternoon.  At the last minute someone found MY ACTIVERAIN BLOGS on pre-drywall inspections.  After reading some she was convinced she should get one.
Smart girl!
One teensy thing found was that a hole was cut to … (0 comments)

home inspections: Home Inspections — Here a crack, there a crack (part 2) - 04/12/11 01:59 AM

Russel Ray is one of my favorite bloggers on ActiveRain. This is part 2 of his comments on cracks that may be found in many homes. This is very good information for home owners. Thanks to Russel for sharing his experience and expertise.
 Blooming for home buyers this spring!


Here a crack, there a crack....(part 2)
DISCLAIMER: This discussion is based on several decades of experience in real estate, including as a home inspector and general contractor. I am not now a concrete professional or licensed structural engineer, so if you are not comfortable with common concrete cracks and … (0 comments)

home inspections: Home Inspections — Here a crack, there a crack.... - 04/11/11 06:50 AM

Russel Ray is one of my favorite bloggers on ActiveRain. He writes about home inspection issues and also shares his wonderful photographs. In this post, he sheds some light on the causes of concrete cracks found my many home owners.
 Blooming for home buyers this spring!


Here a crack, there a crack....
My first experience with cracks in our homes was on December 18, 1965, when I was delivered to my wise old grandmother's house in Kingsville, Texas. I was a juvenile delinquent package that had been shipped from Brigham City, Utah. No one up there wanted me. Only … (0 comments)

home inspections: A Few Maryland Home Inspection Services safety Tips - 01/21/11 07:08 AM

Jim Keilson provides a very good list of safety tips for home owners. All of us need to be very careful to avoid fires and other risks in our homes.  Jim is located in Gaithersburg, MD and is always willing to assist with home inspections for area buyers and sellers.
 
The colors of winter in Montgomery County, MD. Life is very good!
1. BEFORE YOU DIG call MISS UTILITY 1-800-257-7777 (2 day notice is required). Please note that the Maryland High Voltage Line Act prohibits any person or object from getting closer than 10 feet from high voltage power lines.
2. … (7 comments)

home inspections: Make Sure Your Home Inspection Includes The Detached Garage Inspection - 08/17/10 11:19 PM
 
Make Sure Your Utah Home Inspection Includes The Detached Garage Inspection
 
I recently had a client call me to do a garage inspection after he had another home inspection company perform his home inspection. The client was very unsatisfied due to the fact that his prior inspection service didn't include the garage inspection since it wasn't directly connected to the home.
Some home inspection companies consider the garage as an additional building with a usual $75+ inspection fee if the garage isn't directly attached to the home.
All Power Check Infrared Home and Building Inspections include the garage inspection … (5 comments)

home inspections: Bend Me, Shape Me, Anyway You Want Me... - 08/17/10 11:13 PM
 
While at a pre-drywall inspection, bouncing on a floor, I decided to check out other things.  Why not?  I'm there anyway, and one glaring problem almost always indicates that others will be lurking around.  And there were!
I tried to get a photo that actually demonstrates everything going on, but while this may be the best one it does not show the extent of what is happening.
When the large master bath tub was set in place and a hole cut into the sub floor to run the drain line, they discovered that the floor I-beam was right in the … (4 comments)

home inspections: Maryland home buyers should always have a home inspection - 04/26/10 10:02 PM
 Maryland home buyers should always have a home inspection
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 … (9 comments)

 


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