electricity: San Diego home inspections with Russel Ray: Painting your electric panel - 08/28/09 05:08 AM
At a recent inspection for one of Steve Hall's Buyers, it was pretty obvious that someone had told the painters to "Paint the place!" or something similar, as indicated by the painted fireplace.
Another clue was when I went to look at the electric panel, which was located in a … (6 comments)
electricity: Bigger is not always better! - 06/30/09 05:49 AM
Electricity is probably the area where most home inspectors are the most uncomfortable.
Sometimes it's because electricity is inherently difficult to understand because of all the weird terminology -- volts, watts, amperage.
Sometimes it's because we don't know what someone might have done to the electric system in their home … (12 comments)
electricity: Your electric panel is not there to cause problems, it's there to prevent them - 06/22/09 03:47 PM
At my recent inspection that reconnected me -- courtesy of ActiveRain -- with a Realtor that I hadn't worked with for six years, there were two electric panels in the home.
Although the home was built in 1946, the electric system had been upgraded, probably in the mid-1970s judging from all … (10 comments)
electricity: I love it when Clients follow up with me.... - 06/02/09 08:59 AM
At some recent inspections, I've been privileged to be presented with the Seller's Transfer Disclosure Statement. Whenever this happens, either the Buyer's Realtor or the Buyer asks me, "Would you like a copy of the disclosures?" or tells me "Here's a copy of the disclosures" as I am handed a … (11 comments)
electricity: Frenetic Friday pop quiz: Kitchen sink cabinets and electricity - 05/29/09 10:32 PM
I take a lot of pictures at my inspections -- long-time readers might say "Duh!" to that -- so when a Client or the Client's Realtor, or sometimes even the Seller or the Seller's Realtor, calls with a question, I can usually pull up a picture, as well as the … (11 comments)
electricity: I love it when the Seller's Realtor calls me.... - 05/29/09 08:23 AM
....names.
Occasionally, after I do an inspection on a property for a Buyer, I'll get a pleasant call from the Seller who needs to let off some steam, needs to rant and rave for a little while, and just needs a shoulder to cry on for about thirty minutes. … (18 comments)
electricity: How do you determine if repairs were done properly, or even done? - 05/23/09 01:20 PM
About 25 percent of my inspections also involve a re-inspection. I think that's way too low, but it is what it is.
Re-inspections are important because there really is only one person who is knowledgeabout about the property, the problems that were discovered during the home inspection, and capable of … (9 comments)
electricity: Manic Monday pop quiz: Safety - 04/06/09 06:46 PM
Welcome to class, class. I'm Professor Doctor Sir Doctor Mister Russel Ray.
Did everyone have a great weekend? Jim, I hope you and Maria got to take Josh to Disney World this weekend.
Anyway, enough about the weekend. It's over with, done, in the past, gone, history -- bye-bye. Let's … (36 comments)
electricity: Electricity, your power cords, and fires - 03/28/09 05:09 PM
One of the things that I will miss most when our local newspapers finally bite the dust is the local news that is covered with more than just some soundbites and cool video clips like I see on television.
Even with the local newspaper, though, they have to edit the … (11 comments)
electricity: Not recommended, but if you have to, here's how - 02/23/09 10:41 PM
It seems that with the slowing economy (slowing?), more and more people are turning into do-it-yourselfers, including some of my Clients.
Some people also seem to be taking up avocations with the intent of turning those avocations into paying vocations somewhere down the line.
While everyone has to start somewhere, … (18 comments)
electricity: I carry lots of insurance - 02/21/09 07:19 PM
I know that I'm in a dangerous profession, which is kind of ironic because I don't do dangerous sports, like jumping out of a perfectly good airplane, or jumping off a perfectly good bridge with a bungee cord tied to my ankles, or driving around in circles at 225 miles … (9 comments)
electricity: If I can't get to it, no one else can either.... - 02/16/09 10:42 PM
For some strange reason, the past few inspections seem to have a recurring theme to them: electricity.
We've had little critters forgetting about emergency exit plans, floor outlets with problems, and now this.
One of the first things I do when I get to an inspection is look at … (18 comments)
electricity: Seller disclosure: "This outlet has problems sometimes...." - 02/14/09 06:11 PM
It's rare that I ever see a Seller's Transfer Disclosure Statement (TDS), but that has happened twice in the past few days.
My wise old grandmother said that things always happen in groups of three.
Any odds on when the third time will happen?
The one I looked at … (14 comments)
electricity: How to (unintentionally) defrost a freezer - 02/06/09 04:20 AM
Here in San Diego County, if a home were being built today, circuits with ground fault protection would be required at exterior outlets; garage wall outlets; kitchen, bathroom, and laundry counter outlets; pool and spa lights; water fountains and ponds; and certain other areas which we can ignore for the … (13 comments)
electricity: When I grow up, I wanna be an electrician - 10/19/08 03:01 PM
The electrical work in the picture below was not done by Little Johnny as his first professional electrical job. It was done by the Seller, who admitted that it was "supposed to be just temporary when I installed the lights last year."
This was a high-voltage lighting system, not … (13 comments)
electricity: Sometimes it really is that simple (electric again) - 09/09/08 08:14 AM
It's unusual for Sellers to be at the home inspection with me, and even more unusual for me to see the Sellers' disclosure statement. At one inspection, I had the pleasure of meeting the Sellers and reading their disclosure statement.
A quick glance at the disclosure statement showed most everything was checked … (6 comments)
electricity: Would you like a little rain with your electricity? - 09/04/08 09:59 PM
Our local utility is great in responding to gas leaks and helping people take care of their gas appliances. I just wish they would do the same when it comes to electricity.
The picture below shows a brand new electric meter just installed a few days prior to my inspection.
If it is, you've got what we call a latent fire hazard, or, in plain English, a fire waiting to happen. Please make sure that your home owner's insurance policy is up to date.
Just because Home Depot sells extension cords … (14 comments)
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At a recent inspection for one of Steve Hall's Buyers, it was pretty obvious that someone had told the painters to "Paint the place!" or something similar, as indicated by the painted fireplace.
;)
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