Gregory's Blog

Harvesting worm castings? Vermicomposting in Montrose, PA

Gregory Scheer (GCS Home Inspections and Thermal Inspections) — Sun, 15 Nov 2009 20:28:52 -0600

A home inspector that's a worm farmer? What's a worm casting? Simply put, it's worm do-do. Yes, I'm a home inspector serving Montrose, Great Bend, Scranton, and more areas in PA, but we raise red worms to help put our garden. It's a very easy thing to do and costs only a few dollars to begin. We started a couple years ago when a friend of mine gave me about 500 red worms. We fed the worms a daily diet of coffee grounds, old veggies and fruits and apple cores. After only two years our worm population grew to an incredible 25,000 (and that's estimating LOW!). Today I harvested the worm castings and placed my worms into a brand new worm bin that we built out in the yard.

Now I have over 200 pounds of the richest fertilzer money can buy. We'll have our third garden this year using the castings and our garden will become nuclear with the largest veggies, quickest growing and largest plants, with plentiful veggies. Don't be afraid, but here's what the little critters look like... oops, too big. See them at my web site: http://www.gcshomeinspections.com/blog

Greg
www.gcshomeinspections.com

Home Inspector Serving Montrose, Scranton, Great Bend, Little Meadows, Honesdale, and more in PA

The moon has a temperature

Gregory Scheer (GCS Home Inspections and Thermal Inspections) — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 21:39:32 -0600

News Flash! Montrose Home Inspector takes Moon's temperature!

Wow, now that could be an image no one wishes to see! It was about a week ago when the moon was full and we had a brilliantly clear evening here in Montrose. I bet I could have seen New Milford, Hallstead, Great Bend and probably Scranton had the mountains not been in the way.

I got out my Fluke TiR1 Infrared Thermal Imager (camera) and pointed it up at the moon. It was a bit over 150 degrees. Thermal imaging works even through the vacuum of space!

Greg
GCS Home Inspections
570-504-8393

Bad Water? You need to know if your water is potable!

Gregory Scheer (GCS Home Inspections and Thermal Inspections) — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 22:55:31 -0600

From your Montrose Home Inspector

Your Montrose Home Inspector just read the Montrose Independent and found information that directly backed up what a Dimock resident told me yesterday at a local fresh water supply; this new gas-drilling operation going on in our area, although making some very wealthy, is possibly to blame for contaminants in drinking water.

You now have GCS Home Inspections and our services (including AFFORDABLE water sampling). You're probably reading this blog on our web site but I can't believe some of the possible negligence that has occurred in Dimock. A water sample analysis is in order for every concerned resident and I wish I could do it for free, but I can make it affordable! CALL me!!! I would like to develop a plan of monthly tests for you, beginning with a baseline so you know where you started. You can best identify (through a certified Lab analysis) when your water became contaminated, or when it became potable once again.

I tested my well water here at our home before we moved so I could have peace-of-mind that our children were not going to get sick from our water source. CALL ME!!! 570-504-8393

Winter weather

Gregory Scheer (GCS Home Inspections and Thermal Inspections) — Sun, 11 Oct 2009 22:03:37 -0500

Is your home properly insulated and ready for winter? Will your roof suffer from roof dams and subsequent water damage? Thermal inspections is the key to non-invasive inspections of critical areas maybe needing insulation. A complete thermal inspection of your home will cost between $375 and $500; a small price compared to the huge energy bills that can occur from not having a properly insulated home. I thermal imaged our travel trailer and here's our story why.

We're traveling to Montrose, PA on our big move from CA. Home Inspection in PA will take a turn when we get there with our thermal imaging technology. We hit bad weather about 60 miles west of Laramie, WY and pulled into a rest area when we just were tired of struggling with the icy road and crazy drivers (who ened up off the road). I-80 was closed for the night and into the next morning; so we sat in our travel trailer, furnace running all night supplemented with a small electric heater powered by a small generator in the back of our truck.

I cannot imaging being in a survival situation such as this in my own home. Northern country can be a survival situation if your own home isn't ready. Call us for your inspection.

Greg
http://www.GCSHomeInspections.com
570-504-8393

New in Montrose?

Gregory Scheer (GCS Home Inspections and Thermal Inspections) — Mon, 28 Sep 2009 01:32:24 -0500

Hi everyone in NE PA! We are soon relocating to Montrose, PA and we're looking forward to it! Life in CA has been really good, the weather exceptional, the ocean "right on!" but after 26 years in the military and over a year doing business in CA we're too far from family. We're coming home, as sung by Daughtry says it all. We're bring our business with us and aspire to offer Susquehanna and surrounding counties the best inspection service ever! We're bringing with us our thermal imaging capability. Soon the cold weather will be knocking at the door, the windows, the under-insulated walls and ceilings; and then the snow will fall, ice dams will develop and the ensuing damage they can cause. We can help identify those areas needing more insulation before your utility bills are sky-rocketing, or before you find the wood pile is grimly diminishing quickly before your eyes. Call us for a FREE quote. Yes, we do home inspections, but we also do thermal inspections.

Greg and Carrie Scheer
www.gcshomeinspections.com
570-504-8393 or email us greg@gcshomeinspections.com

Quote of the Day--"I don't care if the inspector is certified"

Gregory Scheer (GCS Home Inspections and Thermal Inspections) — Fri, 17 Jul 2009 15:35:18 -0500

Wow! I received a call from a Realtor today and he was inquiring about a home inspection. I'd like to call him a price-shopper because that's exactly what he was doing. I got the information for the home and told him my price. He said he can get it done for $100 less than my price--I let it go because I don't overcharge; I'm a professional and my clients receive the BEST service for half the price.

I later called him back because I wanted to know if I could add him to my mailing list and also where he heard of me. Afterwards, I mentioned that a couple people in the area are grossly under-cutting "Professional" home inspector's prices, so be careful. My concern is for the clientele in that they are receiving the best for their money. A couple tips I recommended, not to insult his intelligence, were are these inspectors insured; are they trained; and in CA since there isn't a licensure requirement--are the inspectors at least certified?

Here is the quote, "I don't personally care if they are certified."

My thought--I wonder how much this gentlemen cares about his client. Certification means alot in spite of no license. Training isn't even required in CA. I didn't press the issue. Thoughts?

Greg Scheer
www.gcshomeinspections.com

My roof is leaking!

Gregory Scheer (GCS Home Inspections and Thermal Inspections) — Wed, 11 Mar 2009 01:17:23 -0500

We live in an environment that experience rain only a few months of the year but usually it's killer hot and sunshine galore--we're usually wishing it would rain. Our lakes are filling; making our summer water supply a bit better, but we're possibly also experiencing another phenomena with rain--a roof leak! During the summer months a roof leak cannot be predicted unless there is obvious damage or a water test is performed. This time of the year it's easier--just look up and find the stains.

What do you do if you have a roof leak? Determine where it's coming from--is there damaged roofing, missing or incorrectly-installed flashing, or is there a hole in the roof? Hopefully not the last one, but it needs to be repaired. What if it's a flat roof or low-sloped roof? It may be more difficult to determine where the damage in the membrane has allowed water to infiltrate the roof. GCS Home Inspections has thermal technology and can find these areas, making your life easier and SAVING you MONEY!

The roof is the heart of your building. Take care of it, and allow us to help you.

Greg
www.GCSHomeInspections.com
530-455-5130

GCS Home Inspections (don't let "Home" fool you)

Gregory Scheer (GCS Home Inspections and Thermal Inspections) — Fri, 13 Feb 2009 20:42:46 -0600

Our company, despite our name, does perform commercial property inspections as well. Albeit our prices are different for commercial property, the inspection quality is the best money can buy. Our ethics are beyond reproach and our attention to detail is top-notch. If you know of someone purchasing commercial property, apartment building or strip mall, it does not matter, have them call us for the best inspection their money will buy.

We offer thermal imaging inspections as well. Here in our part of CA it has been raining hard. This will continue for the next couple months, on and off, and then the "dry" will be back. In the meantime, flat roofs will leak, or maybe gather water internally and begin to grow mold--deteriorating the membrane. A thermal scan can pinpoint the moisture and damaged area before it has time to grow. GCS Home Inspections can save the owner potential disaster.

Http://www.cshomeinspections.com
530-455-5130

Thermal Infrared Inspection on my own home

Gregory Scheer (GCS Home Inspections and Thermal Inspections) — Fri, 13 Feb 2009 19:17:19 -0600

Our heating bill has really settled down since last year and expect our summer cooling bills to do the same. We used our thermal imaging camera in our own home and found displaced insulation and leaking air ducts. You could do the same.

Our thermal inspection includes a detailed report with recommendations on how to make the repairs. We do not perform maintenance so there is no conflict of interest. Our report is for you to use to have the repairs made. Stop paying more than what you should get a thermal inspection.

Check out our web site http://www.gcshomeinspections.com or go directly here: http://www.gcshomeinspections.com/Therm ... nspections

GCS Home Inspections
530-455-5130

Thermal imaging can reveal needed information

Gregory Scheer (GCS Home Inspections and Thermal Inspections) — Tue, 20 Jan 2009 01:30:07 -0600

I've inspected two homes in the last few weeks that have had some water damage. These homes were remarkably next door to each other but I believe they were isolated from each other when it comes to the damage. Sorry, I'm a home inspector, www.gcshomeinspections.com, but also a thermographer as well.
    The first home's buyer called for a thermal scan to look at the damage that had just happened days before. Sure enough I could see evaporative cooling taking place during the dry-down. After the work was completed I inspected the home and performed a whole-house thermal scan add-on. The dry-down efforts were completed as advertised and all was well.
    The second home, next door, had water damage and I was hired to inspect for the buyer. It had what appeared as mold-like spots all around the bottom floor walls, the carpet was completely removed from the first floor and the first floor bathroom showed signs of paint blistering, sagging, and other water damage. The thermal scan revealed no evidence of moisture in the walls but it was obvious to me that a professional dry-down had not taken place.
    Moral of the story is if you have water damage, be sure to hire a remediation company to perform a dry-down and be sure to get a thermal inspection before, during, and afterwards.

www.gcshomeinspections.com
We home base in north of Sacramento, but travel outside our area and even the USA for customer service. Thermal inspections are not limited to moisture detection but have other uses as well. Thermal inspections in Yuba City, Sacramento, Colusa, San Francisco and the Bay area, and surrounding areas can be scheduled immediately.

Infrared Thermal Imaging

Gregory Scheer (GCS Home Inspections and Thermal Inspections) — Thu, 11 Dec 2008 03:23:49 -0600

GCS Home Inspections and Thermal Imaging

I upgraded my arsenal of cool equipment items with this fabulous Fluke TiR1 thermal camera. This camera is incredible. Infrared technology has been around for years but now it's nearly affordable to those of us in the inspection field. The camera is capable of measuring small differences in temperature and I've already pin-pointed where my own home is losing heat. Here are just some possibilities:

·        Water and moisture intrusion inspection scans
·        Electrical system inspection and component scans
·        Thermal insulation inspection scans
·        Structural component inspection scans
·        Flat roof inspection scans
·        Pitched roof inspection scans
·        Building envelope inspection scans
·        Material defect scans
·        Air infiltration / Heat loss scans
·        HVAC component scans
·        Radiant heating system inspection scans and locating
·        Energy Audits / Surveys
•        And much more...

My prices are very reasonable. I have this capability and can travel. Call me if you need the service!

Greg Scheer
www.GCSHomeInspections.com
530-455-5130

Performing Thermal Imaging and Home Inspections in Yuba City, Marysville, Plumas Lake, Grass Valley, Brownsville, Lincoln, Wheatland, Sacramento, the San Francisco Bay area, and surrounding areas. Inspections available at other domestic and international locations.

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Inspection report upload service, reporting software and web hosting

Gregory Scheer (GCS Home Inspections and Thermal Inspections) — Sun, 05 Oct 2008 09:25:38 -0500

New Report Upload Service For Use With Any Inspection Software & Free 3 Month Trial

GET 3 MONTHS FREE TO TRY IT OUT!

Realtors, do the inspectors you work with use this service? It benefits you as well! I use this upload service and LOVE IT!!! As an inspector, this gives me more redundancy and allows me to view my reports from any computer. Here's another perk for me the inspector--I was in a pinch, couldn't send a report to a Realtor because my Internet was down for the day. I picked up the phone and called Dominic (developer and owner of Home Inspector Pro and the download service). I asked Dominic to forward the reports I needed to go. Because I've used this upload service, Dominic had access to my files, sent my files, and saved the day! Thanks Dominic!

If you don't have this capability, you should. Try it for the three months--it's FREE! What better price than this? Don't hesitate to contact me if you have any questions, but here's yet another in feather in Dominic's cap--his customer service is incredible! I've NEVER seen anything like it!

I'm a Home Inspector Pro user, software and upload service. I also have my web site hosted with Home Inspector Pro (HIP) . If you're not a HIP user, consider it. If you're dead set against switching to a new, updated and state of art reporting software program, then try the upload service.

Again, contact me if you have questions, but Dominic is always reachable.

v/r
Greg

www.GCSHomeInspections.com
Home Inspections in Marysville, Yuba City, Wheatland, Plumas Lake, and surrounding areas
530-455-5130

Unseen roof damage

Gregory Scheer (GCS Home Inspections and Thermal Inspections) — Mon, 08 Sep 2008 01:57:19 -0500

I was hired to inspect a home and it was such a sweet home. It sat back in the lot and had a beautiful curb-side appeal to it. The home was recently renovated with a new interior such as dry wall, bathroom cabinets and fixtures, new flooring, and carpeting throughout. Unfortunately, nothing was done with the roof. This time of year in our area of California it just doesn't rain and and if it did, this defective areas could be identified from the ground because not only was the roof damaged, but the down spout was removed and it was lying on the roof (also hidden from the ground).

There were other items in my Home Inspection Report--this wasn't it. Go to http://www.gcshomeinspections.com/home-inspection-sample-reports.html to see a sample of my report. My reports range from approximately 30 pages up to my record 69 pages. I don't try to make a long report, I just report the facts.

v/r
Greg
www.GCSHomeInspections.com

Plumas Lake Home Inspection

Gregory Scheer (GCS Home Inspections and Thermal Inspections) — Mon, 08 Sep 2008 01:45:35 -0500

I would like to invite home buyers to my website www.gcshomeinspections.comand look at why you should hire a certified home inspector. On the site you can also find a link to some photos I've taken during some inspections.

For the new-construction buyer, be advised that items are often overlooked during construction. Don't be afraid that your builder is not going to build your home properly; sub contractors are sometimes used to perform duties the contractor doesn't have time to do. For instance, I inspected a brand new home and found the attic had only a few inches of insulation over the end bedrooms. The buyer would have never ventured into the attic and worked their way back to the far reaches of the attic. Important to note that the lack of insulation was found before they bought the home and was repaired before the potentially $Thousands spent in utilities due to inefficiency. My fee was such a small drop in bucket; please visit my web site and if you're in the Yuba City, Plumas Lake, Marysville, Loma Rica, Wheatland, Grass Valley, Brownsville, Colusa, Live Oak and surrounding area, call me for your home inspection.

v/r
Greg
www.GCSHomeInspections.com
530-455-5130

Home Inspections in the Yuba City area

Gregory Scheer (GCS Home Inspections and Thermal Inspections) — Mon, 08 Sep 2008 01:06:26 -0500

Many homes I've recently inspected are either foreclosures or short sales. Some of these homes are in disrepair and it's unfortunate, but a reality. As a Home Inspector I'm partial and believe every property purchase needs an inspection, but especially with the above mentioned homes, no one really knows what the house is all about--only a certified home inspector. The defects found during an inspection are critical and all home buyers need to know what they are buying. These defects, converted to the negotiating power ($), pay for the inspection many times over. I'm not saying all homes have defects but many have items that just aren't the way they should be and it's good they are being inspected by a certified inspector. Call me if you need a home inspection. Yuba City, Marysville, Plumas Lake, Wheatland, Lincoln, Colusa, Loma Rica, Grass Valley and even Brownsville is my local area. Call me--I'd love to inspect for you.

Greg
www.gcshomeinspections.com
530-455-5130

GCS Home Inspections, NACHI certified and thorough

Gregory Scheer (GCS Home Inspections and Thermal Inspections) — Tue, 26 Aug 2008 00:10:42 -0500

Yesterday I inspected a home--it took me about three hours to get around, over, in and under it. I drove home and uploaded my 269 digital photos. I had to switch memory cards about 2/3 of the way through the inspection but I didn't realize I had taken so many photos. I use a reporting software program from http://www.homeinspectorpro.com called Home Inspector Pro, like the web site. It took me over six hours to write the report despite the ease of this program. I had a lot to say about this house. It was an old home with many problems from vermiculite insulation to cable feeds resting on the roof, to exposed live wires, and so much more!

Here's what I realized--I'm thorough! I know; you may say, "Greg, you were in the military for 26 years and you're going to be attentive to detail!" And you're right. But I think it goes much further--I take pride in what I do and my goal is to equip my client with knowledge. Having children, I inspect the home and wonder what my boys could get into that could hurt them while I was inspecting the home.

I need to raise my prices--I made a "summer stimulus special" to drum up clients in my CA town, but at $280 I charge about half of what the rest are getting--and they are busy! But another company is only slightly higher than me.

Have you ever thought you were worth more? I do every day and especially every time in in a crawl space with the spiders, and what ever else I find. Suffice it to say, the summer stimulus special is pretty cheap for the quality work I'm doing--I hope potential clients see this vice seeing my much lower prices as a "cheap" inspection where you get what you pay for. This is not the case with GCS Home Inspections.

Greg
www.gcshomeinspections.com

Home inspections in Marysvlle, Yuba City and Plumas Lake

Gregory Scheer (GCS Home Inspections and Thermal Inspections) — Sun, 24 Aug 2008 01:08:05 -0500

Lately the number has risen. That's good for me but of course, it's really good that folks are buying! Investors are purchasing foreclosures but I've seen more first-time home buyers getting into the the market than others. Hopefully this is going on everywhere!

I have seen some pretty scary things though. I hope this isn't the case everywhere!
v/r
Greg

www.gcshomeinspections.com

Be careful when you're buying a home--you really should get it inspected

Gregory Scheer (GCS Home Inspections and Thermal Inspections) — Wed, 06 Aug 2008 10:01:56 -0500

This is from a recent inspection. Can you see the wires in the bottom left of the fuse box? They've been cut. I inspected this home and made some recommendations such as a licensed electrician come evaluate and make appropriate repairs. This is the repair made to the fuse box; I came back for the buyer to relook at a couple areas--this being one of them.

The listing agent called for these repairs to be made and possibly hired it out. The buyer received the same statements from me regarding this fuse box in addition to the one I mentioned earlier--the wires are cut and left in the box unsecured.
Thoughts?

Greg
www.GCSHomeInspections.com
530-455-5130

Keep the lawn cut

Gregory Scheer (GCS Home Inspections and Thermal Inspections) — Fri, 01 Aug 2008 10:54:38 -0500

I've been to a number of homes to inspect them and the lawns were overgrown. I know it costs money to keep the lawns cut, but curb-side appeal could mean a sale...or NOT a sale.

Well, yesterday I got out the mower to cut my grass. It's a lush green but was getting a little high. I was half done with the front yard and it began knocking, so I shut it off. I checked the oil and between beginning to cut the lawn and shutting it down 15 minutes later, the oil was gone. My engine is done.

Maybe this is why so many homes for sale have high grass--there is a mower out back with a blown engine.

Greg
www.gcshomeinspections.com

GCS Home Inspections, NACHI certified and thorough

Gregory Scheer (GCS Home Inspections and Thermal Inspections) — Thu, 31 Jul 2008 01:38:07 -0500

Greg
www.gcshomeinspections.com

REOs and Real Estate Agents

Gregory Scheer (GCS Home Inspections and Thermal Inspections) — Tue, 29 Jul 2008 02:40:17 -0500

I was browsing some other message boards that I belong to and ran across a link regarding REOs. There are a number of REOs still in my area, so is there a liability? Did any of you read this article? This is something to be aware of. http://www.inman.com/news/2008/07/24/lenders-stick-listing-agents-with-reo-liabilities

What are your thoughts?

Greg
www.gcshomeinspections.com

Hot water inspection

Gregory Scheer (GCS Home Inspections and Thermal Inspections) — Mon, 28 Jul 2008 01:31:14 -0500

What's wrong with this picture? This is the bath tub hot water temperature.
It's important to note that anything over 110 degrees is hot water but above 120 degrees scalding time drastically shortens. Check your water temperature, and though it gets the dishes clean, it is dangerous especially to the very young and very old.

Greg
www.gcshomeinspections.com

Home Inspection Prices

Gregory Scheer (GCS Home Inspections and Thermal Inspections) — Mon, 28 Jul 2008 00:43:55 -0500

Have you ever thought you were being under paid? Last week I was under my second crawl space along with all the spider webs, narrow spaces, dripping water, and dust and I thought, "My prices must go up" and this is what I need to do. The problem, as I see it, is some inspectors charge so low of a price that potential clients are swayed away to the cheaper inspector.

I need to raise my meager fees, but I'd like to hear from you. What are you telling your clients regarding home inspection prices?

Greg
www.gcshomeinspections.com

AC compressor

Gregory Scheer (GCS Home Inspections and Thermal Inspections) — Mon, 28 Jul 2008 00:37:06 -0500

I saw a blog today in a local forum regarding their AC compressor and how to determine if it was still alright. Below is a learned tip:

There's a way to check the air conditioner using a clamp amp meter--I'm not an electrician but this has worked for years:
Look at the label on your compressor and see what the running load is rated. After about 30 minutes of use, place a clamp meter around one of the cable feeds. The amperage should be at approx 75% of the rated load on the label. Higher than that could indicate a bearing failure or something creating drag on the motor. Lower amperage could mean a low refrigerant. If it's fine, then use a temp gage and check the register air temp and supply temp.

Greg
www.GCSHomeInspections.com

Commercial Inspections

Gregory Scheer (GCS Home Inspections and Thermal Inspections) — Mon, 28 Jul 2008 00:03:04 -0500

I just returned home from a seminar in Burbank, CA. The course was on commercial inspections. This is an often overlooked market for inspectors. This is something I intend to do more of. For the realtors, how do you find a commercial property inspector? At GCS Home Inspections, we don't market this side of the arena, but will soon.

Greg
www.gcshomeinspections.com