Jacob 's Blog

THE INSPECTOR'S CORNER: Chinese drywall update

Jacob Mermin (Jacob Mermin Inspections) — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 20:57:30 -0500

FROM THE INSPECTOR,

I was recently in a development in South Ft. Myers doing a Visual Chinese drywall inspection. I was very saddened to discover that this very nice complex was suffering from the effects of the chemicals associated with Chinese drywall. I spent some time there speaking with residents of this development and found out that many of the units were being rented. I talked to one owner that recently moved his tennant out at his expense. He informed me that there were many empty units in the development.

As you can see the developement that I did the visual Chinese Drywall Inspection was Avalon Preserve. Feel free to go to my blog at my website at www.mermininspections.comand click on the blog button which will take you to the INSPECTOR'S CORNER. Look for the "From the Inspector" posts and you will find all the previous Chinese Drywall update posts. You will find pictures of the visual evidence found in the unit I inspected in Avalon Preserve. You will also see all the other corners that are made available for guests to write postings. There is a Realtor's Corner that I allow realtors to write interesting posts. Just send a post to me at jacob@mermininspections.comand I will look it over and if it fits into the whole concept of seperate corners I would be happy to post it. I am looking for current events of the real estate business that you feel would be of interest to realtors and sellers and buyers. No listing please, they will not be posted. Be looking of a Jacob Mermin Inspections monthly newsletter. It will cover all types of inspections.

THE INSPECTOR'S CORNER: Pulling permits

Jacob Mermin (Jacob Mermin Inspections) — Sat, 25 Jul 2009 10:54:54 -0500

I have been in the air conditioning business since 1988 and in 1994 I became an EPA Certified Type ll air conditioning technician. I did this for two reasons, one because it gave me more knowledge and two because it was a new law that required all air conditioning technicians who were going to work with Freon comply with that law.

I believe that laws governing the HVAC industry are very important. These laws protect the homeowner in Florida. It amazes me that so many air conditioning contractors do not pull permits on their air conditioning and duct work installations. What amazes me more is that the homeowner doesn't care or doesn't know that these permits need to be pulled and posted on the home in a place that can be seen from the street. This not pulling permits epidemic that has infected the air conditioning business in SW. Florida comes from the small mom and pop operation to the large corporate contractor. There are companies that sometimes pull permits and sometimes don't. When the home is off the beaten path there is a good chance that a permit is not pulled. It costs about $100.00 considering the cost of the permit and the cost to post it to do business legally.

Please go to my blog on my website at www.mermininspections.com/blog/ to read the complete posting. This is a very important issue that is not just for the air conditioning industry. As realtors and home inspectors we are responsible for our clients welfare and well being. We must protect them from the contractor who only cares about themselves. If you have any clients who require guidance in this matter my consultations are free.

Jacob Mermin CHI/CMI

www.mermininspections.com

jacob@mermininspections.com

239-243-7322

The Inspecto's Corner: Chinese Dryall Update

Jacob Mermin (Jacob Mermin Inspections) — Sun, 07 Jun 2009 12:57:20 -0500

AIR CONDITIONING

As you can see in this picture the old evaporator coil with it's blackened copper tubing is in stark contrast to the new shinny copper tubing of the new evaporator coil. This is definite evidence that this home maybe suffering from the effects of the chemicals associated with Chinese Drywall.

The Chinese drywall situation is very important and as a Certified Home Inspector I am recommending to all my rea estate freinds to make sure their clients are well aware of the problems associated with the effects of the chemicals found in this imported drywall. Please go to my website blog located at www.mermininspections.comand click on the blog button at the top of the page. Here you will find many posts from The Inspector showing pictures. I also list developments where I have found examples of the Chinese drywall. I will never use a clients name or give their address in my posts. But I feel it is my responsibility to let the Real Estate industry and the general public know when I have discovered another community in SW. Florida where I have found evidence of Chinese Drywall. Lennar homes has announced that not only did they file suit against the manufacturers and distributors of Chinese drywall, but now they are also filing suit against the installing companies of Chinese Drywall. No one is safe. It is our responsibility to protect our clients. Please become a member of my blog at www.mermininspecitons.comso that you can help keep your clients updated. Let your customer know not ot ever buy a home without a home inspeciton. REMEMBER ALL MY INSPECTIONS INCLUDE THE CERTIFIED HOME INSPECTION, MOLD INSPECTION, AIR CONDITIONING INSPECTION, AIR QUALITY INSPECTION, AND NOW CHINESE DRY WALL INSPECTION

Jacob Mermin CMI/CMI

www.mermininspections.com

jacob@mermininspections.com

239-243-7322

THE INSPECTOR'S CORNER: CHINESE DRYWALL, Update

Jacob Mermin (Jacob Mermin Inspections) — Tue, 05 May 2009 22:11:42 -0500

I would like to invite everyone to go to my blog at www.mermininspections.com/blog. I have been running a series of blogs on Chinese drywall. I have been doing a lot of visual inspections all over Lee County. Unfortunately I have found several developments and communities that are showing the effects of Chinese drywall.

I am advising all of my Realtor freinds to not let their clients purchase a home that was built in the years 2004 through 2007 without first having a visual inspection done by a Certified Home Inspector. If you go to my website at www.mermininspecitons.comyou will see on the first page a special I am running for a visual inspeciton for the effects of Chinese drywall. I am also including this visual inspection with my Certified Home Inspection at no additional cost. This free visual Chinese Drywall inspection is Free only when it is done at the same time as the Certified Inspection. The price for this Visual Chinese Drywall inspeciton is so low that any coupons or discounts cannot be applied to the price.

I take this Chinese Drywall situation very seriously. I have many out of town investors using my visual inspection prior to making offers on investment properties. With all the great homes and their prices it doesn't make any sense to take the chance a home your client may be interested in is suffering from the effects of Chinese Drywall. No client of mine has been upset that I did not find the visual effects of Chinese drywall after they have paid for this inspeciton. They will be very upset with someone if it is found after they close.

Together the Professional Realtor and the Certified Home Inspector, we can protect our joint clients from Chinese Drywall. At this time I would like to thank the many Realtors that have called me to work with their clients in this matter. It is also our jobs to protect out clients from those who would take advantage of them. With your help I will do what ever it takes to do that.

Thank you,

Jacob Mermin CHI/CMI

www.mermininspecitons.com

jacob@mermininspecions.com

239-243-7322

THE INSPECTOR'S CORNER: CHINESE DRYWALL INSPECTION

Jacob Mermin (Jacob Mermin Inspections) — Thu, 19 Mar 2009 15:53:04 -0500

Jacob Mermin Inspections website at www.mermininspections.com has a special right now on a Chinese Drywall Inspection. I have recently found evidence of Chinese drywall in two local developments. One being The Meadows in Estero next to Pelican Sound. I looked at three different units in there and all three had black evaporator coils. The other development I have been in lately is The Rookery. The evaporator coil was replaced in November so the coil was not black. I did remove two electrical outlet switch plates to look at the copper wire and found that the copper wire had turned black. I am advising all of my Real Estate Agent friends to recommend to their clients to have a Chinese Drywall Inspection. All of my Certified Home Inspections include a Certified Mold Inspection, Certified Air Quality Inspection, and a Certified Air Conditioning Inspection. Now all my Home Inspections include a Chinese Drywall Inspection at no extra charge. If a client only wants a Chinese Drywall Inspection it is on sale at my website www.mermininspections.com just go to the website and see the offer on my front page. Call me at 239-243-7322 for immediate information. Be advised a colleague and I will be announcing an affordable lab test for Chinese Drywall for homeowners in a couple of weeks. Final negotiations are being conducted this coming weekend to finalize the pricing for our SW. Florida friends. Anyone interested in having this testing done after the visual inspection has been done can be put on a list and offered the lab testing when it is available. You will find more information and when this testing is available at my blog located at www.mermininspections.com. I look forward to helping as many SW. Florida homeowners as time will allow. When this test becomes available in about two weeks please be patient.

Thank You,

Jacob Mermin CHI/CMI

Jacob Mermin Inspections

www.mermininspections.com

jacob @mermininspections.com

THE INSPECTORS CORNER. Air Purification For Real Estate Professionals

Jacob Mermin (Jacob Mermin Inspections) — Fri, 21 Nov 2008 22:34:02 -0600

My passion is air quality. I mean no incense, candles, or those products that contain oils that are plugged into an electrical outlet. I do not use Fabreeze or any other spray that is supposed to make our homes smell better. I don't want to come home from a long day out in the world to a house that smells like pumpkin pie, especially when there is no pie. Why is it that we use so many sprays? The reason why we use so many of these chemicals is because we do not know any better. The next time you pick up a can of Lysol. You know the product that is the cure all for the human race. When you pick it up, turn it around and read the label showing the ingredients. One of the main ingredients is Ethanol which is in racing fuel.

I have a line of air quality products that I would like to introduce to the real estate professionals of SW. Florida. Going back to March 5^th 2008 I wrote a Blog at active rain under my heading The Inspector's corner, called did your last open house stink. Homes that have been closed up for months or even years are now known as a" sick building" or having "dirty sock syndrome".

http://www.mermininspections.com/ac_parts_catalog.html

Click on JMI-3000 JMI-1000 JMI-200 and JMI UV-1

My air purification products are all over SW Florida from nail salons to UPS stores. These machines are providing home owners and business owners with indoor air quality second to none. When I am called in to do an assessment and when mold testing is needed, I bring in one of my machines to get a head start against what may be discovered by the lab testing. When mold counts inside the home are higher than outside the home remediation is the order of the day. Results are clear. I have retested a subject house after running my air purification machine and found that the numbers have changed. The indoor mold count has become less than the outside or nearly the same. The machine works. The JMI 3000 is good up to 3000 sq ft. The JMI 1000 purifies up to 1000 sq ft. The JMI 200 is a plug in and is great for near the kitchen garbage can, the bathroom, or even near the litter box. The is pure deodorizing with out the Candles or plug in oil units.

I wrote a Blog about Ultra-violet lights and it got a lot of views on The Inspector's Corner on Active Rain. They really work and I have several models including my own model JMI UV-1.

The key thing here to remember is that there are two types of air purification concepts. One concept is Passive and the other is Pro-Active. In the Passive category you have products like the Ionic Breeze. It just stands there where you put it and covers about 300 sq ft. It stands there waiting for something to hit it. You then you pull out the collection plate and clean it up. If you have a 1500 square foot house you would need five of them. My JMI-3000 and JMI 1000 are considered pro-active purifiers. There are three different types of technologies in these units. The first is a type of Radiant Catalytic Ionization, UVX Ultra Violet Light, and Electrified Oxygen O-3. These technologies are sent out into the room to purify and clean your air. You might say these units are creating clean fresh new air in your home.

I am offering at no charge a free demonstration at your office, your home, or even a foreclosure you may be preparing for an open house. I would like the opportunity to show you this technology. I have simple experiments that we can test this technology. After we have done these tests I am willing to let you, the local real estate professional to test on your own, one of these amazing machines. You can test it for three days or more at your office, your home, or one of those stinky open houses. This is your opportunity to test a thoroughly tested technology that has been used all over the country for over 20 years.

Call me. I only have a few of these demo units available. Call me a 239-243-7322 to set an appointment for your free demonstration. Take a few minutes out of your busy schedule so that I can show you how you can help your client present a better indoor environment. If their home smells good potential buyers will stay longer. If you can't walk into that foreclosure because it smells so bad, how can you expect a buyer to?

Call soon.

Jacob Mermin CHI/CMI

www.mermininspections.com

239-243-7322

THE INSPECTOR'S CORNER: 23 problems that cause 93% of all air conditioner failures PART TWO

Jacob Mermin (Jacob Mermin Inspections) — Wed, 19 Nov 2008 20:25:27 -0600

23 PROBLEMS THAT CAUSE 93% OF ALL AIR CONDITIONER FAILURES.

Why they happen, what they cost, and how to prevent them.

Part two is now posted on The home and mold inspectior's corner at http://moldandairtests.blogspot.com

PART TWO CONSISTS OF;

BURNT/LOOSE WIRE Thanks to everyone who is following the link to my

CAPACITOR blog spot posts. I will keep everyone posted on Active

COMPRSSOR Rain when part three is complete as well all other parts.

CONDESER COIL AND AIR RESTRICTION Thanks "The Inspector"

PART THREE WILL CONSIST OF:

CONDENSER COIL LEAK

CONDENSER FAN

CONDENSER FAN MOTOR

CONTACTOR

THE INSPECTOR'S CORNER: 23 problems that cause 93% of all air conditioner failures: PART ONE

Jacob Mermin (Jacob Mermin Inspections) — Mon, 17 Nov 2008 21:05:31 -0600

TO READ THIS BLOG POST PLEASE GO TO MY BLOG AT http://moldandairtests.blogspot.com

BEFORE YOU GO TO MOLD AND AIR TESTS AT BLOG SPOT HERE IS A PREVIEW OF PART FOUR OF MY BLOG POST.

THANK YOU.

23 PROBLEMS THAT CAUSE 93% OF ALL AIR CONDITIONER FAILURES.
WHY THEY HAPPEN, WHAT THEY COST, AND HOW TO PREVENT THEM

PART TWO

# 5 BURNT / LOOSE WIRE
# 6 CAPACITOR
#7 COMPRESSOR
#8 CONDENSER COIL AND AIR RESTRICTION

PLEASE BE PATIENT AS THIS NEXT PART WILL BE COMING VERY SOON. CHECK BACK IN A DAY OR SO AND THE NEXT FOUR PARTS WILL BE POSTED.

PART THREE WILL BE ON

CONDENSER COIL LEAK
CONDENSER FAN
CONDENSER FAN MOTOR
CONTACTOR

DON'T FORGET THAT ANY QUESTIONS CAN BE SENT TO moldandairtests@gmail.com

I WILL POST ALL QUESTIONS AND TRY TO ANSWER THEM. ANYONE CAN SUBMIT THEIR ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS THAT THE READER FEELS I MAY HAVE GOTTEN WRONG. I AM STILL INTERESTED IN LEARNING EVERYTHING THAT I CAN.

THANKS FOR YOUR PARTICIPATION
Jacob Mermin CHI/CMI

THE INSPECTOR'S CORNER: THE 23 PROBLEMS THAT CAUSE 96% OF ALL AIR CONDITIONING FAILURES

Jacob Mermin (Jacob Mermin Inspections) — Sat, 08 Nov 2008 23:26:06 -0600

THE 23 PROBLEMS THAT CAUSE 96% OF ALL AIR CONDITIONING FAILURES

TO READ THIS SERIES OF BLOGS ABOUT THE 23 PROBLEMS THAT CAN CAUSE 96% OF AIR CONDITIONING FAILURES GO TO http://moldandairtests.blogspot.com and learn somthing about your air conditioner

This blog will be a 6 part blog series covering 23 things that can affect or prevent your air conditioner from operating properly. The first 5 parts will cover 4 items each and the last part will cover 3. This blog is not meant to turn you into a air conditioning expert but it will give a working knowledge of how today's systems work. It will help you talk with some intelligence the next time your air conditioning service man talks to you about your system. I would appreciate any questions or comments back just e-mail me at moldandairtests@gmail.com. We will add another section to the blog where we will list your question and try and present the answer. If I don't know the answer I will find someone who will. I don't need to know your real name or address but would like to know where you live. Remember we are trying to learn something out there so lets stick to the content of the blog with your questions.

We will explore these 23 problems, explain why they happen,how to prevent them, and what the options are. Part one of this blog will cover the following: 1. Blocked air filter. 2. Blower fan. 3. Blower motor. 4. Breaker/fuse

Jacob Mermin is the only inspector in SW Florida that is a certified home inspector,mold inspector, air quality inspector and epa certified air conditioning technician. You can get 4 inspections for the price of one.

THE INSPECTOR'S CORNER: Do you know any home inspectors

Jacob Mermin (Jacob Mermin Inspections) — Sun, 21 Sep 2008 14:52:00 -0500

The reason that I started writing this blog, The Inspector's Corner was to show that Jacob Mermin Inspections is a better inspection firm. I want to create relationships with realtors. I am on several realty teams in SW Florida. I believe it is good for both industries. I have found that most realtors don't have a relationship with one home inspector let alone several. In fact most realtors don't even know how to differentiate one inspector from another. For instance when I told a real estate agent that I would sit at an open house with them they looked at me like I had two heads. I think both industries should work together especially in a slow market. I think if we work together both doing our jobs for the sake of the client there is nothing that we can't do. I always recommend the realtors that I work with. Unlike a lot of inspectors that don't have relationships with real estate professionals I believe that it is not a one way street. I think that many inspectors have the what can you do for me today attitude. Not too long ago there was a blog on Active Rain that talked about inspectors paying to be on some realtors concierge service. Boy, there was a big brew ha ha about that. We all pay for marketing, don't we? Even word of mouth costs something, it's just not tracked. If real estate agents and home inspectors had a relationship like I am recommending, we home inspectors wouldn't have to be involved with these Pay For Leads Organizations, and realtors would receive referrals back from their home inspector partners. Remember I said that most realtors don't know how to differentiate between one home inspector and another. My goal with this, relationship building is to make Jacob Mermin Inspections the inspection company that all realtors and mortgage brokers use to help them recognize the difference from a full service inspection and one that, let's just say is going through the motions type of inspection.

I think most real estate pros wake up in the morning and think "what can I do to impress a client today"? of course they do, so do I. It is our job as professionals to do that everyday. When the morning comes that we don't ask ourselves that question I think it's time for us to quit and find something easier to do. Yes, I think these two professions are very hard. As we have all heard before, "if it wasn't hard, everyone would be doing it." So here is the million dollar question. Well maybe not that much, how do I impress my new client with a home inspector? What home inspector can I use to impress my client? It's easy, I am going to give you some ideas. Since it is my goal to have Jacob Mermin Inspections, as the company you compare all home inspectors, here is a reminder of why you should use Jacob Mermin Inspections.

I am the only Home Inspection Company in SW Florida that is certified as a Home Inspector, Mold Inspector, Indoor Air Quality Inspector, and a HVAC Inspector. What this means for your Lister's and Buyer's, I can save them a lot of time and a heck of a lot of money. I also have a program for your listing clients, it's called Certified Move In Ready. I do a pre-listing inspection for your client and then put a sign in their front yard next to your realty sign that says their home is Pre-Inspected and Certified Move In Ready. This will make their home stand out in a large real estate inventory. For all your Certified Move In Ready clients Jacob Mermin Inspections will sit at that Open House with you. What better company could you have - a Pre-Inspection Report and the Certified Home Inspector who wrote it. Go to my website at www.mermininspections.com for more information.

You will notice on my website an HVAC parts catalog that is half the price of a local air conditioning company on many products. If you have that awful, stinky open house, Jacob Mermin Inspections has the products to make that home smell fresh and inviting. These products will be listed on the website soon. Jacob Mermin Inspections is qualified to do all types of indoor air and mold testing including ERMI/DNA MOLD testing. This testing is the only one developed by the EPA. My testing is done through Clean Air Labs. This lab is one of only 15 labs in the world certified to do this one and only EPA Test. Remember because I am a Certified Air Conditioning Technician I can open up the air conditioner. Most home inspectors can only do a visual inspection and a temperature differential of the performance of the system. I can tell you why it is working the way it is. I can also test the duct system and inspect it with a special miniature camera that your clients can view on a four inch screen. I can also make a video recording for before and after documentation. Jacob Mermin Inspections will go anywhere at anytime in the five county area of SW Florida. If you need a short notice and quick turnaround inspection I am your inspector. If it turns out you need some other work done, Jacob Mermin Inspections can recommend highly qualified licensed and certified contractors to bid any work or repairs.

Remember Jacob Mermin Inspections has all the certifications and has 20 years in the field in SW Florida. Jacob Mermin Inspections is a member of the Christian Chamber of Commerce and many Certification and Trade Organization. You can see them all listed on my website. Also Jacob Mermin is the Co-Founder of Neighbor Helping Neighbor which is a local Business and Referral Networking Group. You can see NHN at www.neighborhelpingneighbor.com. Jacob Mermin is everything you need and more. Remember I have a whole lot of information available to give to you and your clients, and it's all FREE.

Final Note: "Without Air Quality, You can't have quality of life."

Jacob Mermin CMI/CHI

239-243-7322

Cheaper doesn't always mean better, sometimes it means less.

Jacob Mermin (Jacob Mermin Inspections) — Sat, 13 Sep 2008 23:09:47 -0500

I have been in the inspection/air quality/ hvac business since 1988 and until recently I have always respected and enjoyed working with realtors. I recently received a call from a husband and wife realty team. These were the wonderful realtors in this nightmare. I would go anywhere, jump through any hoops, and climb every.... You get the idea, I really liked these realtors. They were the buyer's realtor, and the buyers were very lucky that they had the three of us working for them on this particular real estate transaction. I was asked to do one of my complete and thorough home inspections. This husband and wife team, (lets call them Fred & Ethel) knew because of my certifications I could do the inspection, a mold inspection, air quality inspection, and an HVAC inspection all at once by myself. I met Fred & Ethel at the home and the inspection began as all inspections do, on the outside.

I found problem after problem with this home. Some were serious but most were merely cosmetic. I had step cracks in the exterior stucco, and settlement cracks in the pool deck. There was a broken handle on a screen door and no power to the hot tub. I am sure as realtors you have all seen these exterior short comings.

When I moved into the inside minor problems became very serious. As a Certified Mold Inspector and HVAC Technician I was able to open up the air conditioning and look at the ductwork. Thank goodness that I had put on gloves and was wearing a respirator because the interior of the air handler hanging in the garage was full of microbial growth. I then inspected the supply grills and return. There was a microbial or dirt like material on the supply grills that looked very familiar. I wanted the buyers to understand the potential health issues involved. I explained to them that I have seen this many times but I would prefer that samples be taken and sent to the lab so that we would be sure of what we were dealing with. I told them that I needed to take only two tests. One swab from microbial matter inside the blower wheel and one swab from a four way grill in the family room.

The buyers agreed and I proceeded to take the samples and sent them to the lab in Oakridge Tenn. I explained that we would have results back within 48hrs. I called my clients and let them know that I had received the results back from the lab. We made an appointment to meet back at the house with Fred & Ethel. I went over the results and explained all the different types of mold that were in the air handler and that Stachybotris was at the four way grill. After I calmed them down and told them that even the infamous black mold was manageable. They asked me what I would suggest that they do.

I am sure you are all thinking what is this all about. This is where we all meet the seller's agent. I have been told by many agents that this agent is the one that they have all told themselves they would never be. To be fair, all trades and all professions have these types of people in them, mine included.

My client asked me to list everything that is wrong and what I believe should be done. I told my client that the air handler needs a complete overhaul. Which means that the evaporator coil needs to be pulled out and completely cleaned. Pull out the insulation and replace with new. Pull out the blower wheel and clean completely. I also told my clients that the ducts needed to be cleaned and sanitized. Clean and sanitize all the supply grills. My clients then requested an approximate cost for all these repairs. I told them that I would base my estimates on a mid sized company with average overhead. The amount for the air handler overhaul came to about $1900.00. This was due in part to the air handler being about 15 feet in the air in the garage. I informed my client that the duct cleaning would be about $ 850.00 and I would only recommend having them cleaned with Abatement Technologies equipment. I them directed them to my website www.mermininspection.com to the duct cleaning section and they could watch a video on that type of equipment. They would be able to see how duct cleaning was done. Here it comes, here comes the problem,

I take it that these repairs and my suggested remediation were given to the seller's agent to negotiate the work with their purchase of the house.I was called by the seller's agent and basically read the riot act. I was told by this agent that I would never do another home inspection in Lee County again. I was unethical because I was recommending repairs that I would profit from. I explained that my loyalty was to my client and I did no such thing. I explained to her that I didn't think it was very ethical for her to call me, and that she should go through the buyer's agent. She then proceeded to tell me that they were not going to use my estimate. She even told me that I should have told her client that they should get another estimate. I explained to this "Professional Realtor" this estimate was an average cost for this type of work based on a middle size company with middle sized overhead. I explained to her that my loyalty was to my client and to Fred & Ethel. I explained to her that it was not my responsibility to consult with her clients. She then went on this strange tangent on how Ethel didn't know what she was doing, that she was a terrible realtor, and didn't know how she could ever sell a house. I had to tell her that this was the fourth inspection they recommended me for in 6 weeks and that must mean Fred & Ethel must know something.

The seller's agent said she was arranging to have the work done on the HVAC system herself, and she was getting it done by a local air conditioning company for under $ 500.00. My client asked me if I would inspect their work after they were done. I agreed, because they were my clients and I was kind of mad at this agent. The word came that the work was complete and I met Fred & Ethel and the buyer at the house. Well don't you know it didn't look like anything was done? The blower wheel was still dirty. The insulation wasn't replaced. The wires still had gunk all over them. They didn't even clean the paper tag on the blower motor. I then looked at the four way grill in the family room and it still had the dirt on it. They didn't even clean that. Fred & Ethel called the seller's agent and she assured them that this a/c company not only did the work but did a great job. After receiving the bill at F/He's office I was asked to re-do the swab tests. I am sure you probably know the results of those re-tests.

The moral of this story is: Just because they are an air conditioning company doesn't mean they are mold certified. It doesn't even mean they know anything about mold. Also just because they are the cheapest doesn't mean they are right. It might mean they are doing less.Make sure that you deal with someone who is nationally certified. I tell people that they should never ever buy or sell a home without a home and mold inspection.Both sides of a real estate transactions can work together for the clients. Everyone in all the professions should stop trying to look like a big shot in front of their clients. My loyalty is always to my clients. I will always treat the realtor on both side of the transaction with respect and kindness and appreciate the business that your profession gives me. Let's work together in the best interest of the client and the real estate market.

Jacob Mermin CHI/CMI

www.mermininspections.com

239-243-7322

THE INSPECTOR'S CORNER: HUD-92564-CN ( 8/99 )

Jacob Mermin (Jacob Mermin Inspections) — Sun, 27 Jul 2008 12:10:31 -0500

As a Certified Home Inspector I can see that HUD-92564-CN(8/99) could increase my business and the business of all home inspectors. Also being a certified mold inspector and a certified HVAC and IAQ inspector could impress Mortgage Brokers enough to recommend my one stop firm to their clients. What I don't understand is why I haven't heard about this. I asked this very question to a Mortgage Broker friend and she told me that until recently FHA loans were not that popular. Does it have anything to do with the foreclosure situation we are experiencing in Lee County and the rest of Florida? I just read that Lee County has the highest foreclosure rate in Florida. I also read that home sales in Lee County are up 29% over last year. "Ya, but the home prices are down" replies a realtor. Why be so negative. A sale is a sale. The more houses that become homes because of a realtor sale the better. If inventory sells, doesn't that mean that maybe just maybe builders will start building again? Now doesn't that sound more positive. Look at me a Home Inspector talking like I understand the real estate market. Everywhere you look there are real estate experts giving you their opinions. Thank God I never plan on moving from my house. I feel sorry for all those home hunters looking for their next dream home.

Oh, I forgot this blog was supposed to be about HUD-92564-CN (8/99). Why does the government in all their wisdom and ‘BIG BROTHER" attitude feel they need us to sign something to prove we understand it. Apparently this HUD/FHA form is to prove that the Mortgage loan receiver knows the difference between a home appraisal and a home inspection. Now don't get me wrong I think that a home inspection is the most important thing in any real estate transaction, "DUH" I'm a home inspector. My problem with this whole thing is that our Federal Government thinks we are stupid. I am surprised that there is not a note at the signature block that states if you can't write mark with an X. I am not this anti government, black helicopter, conspiracy theorist, though I was on the side of the Indians at the Boston Tea Party. I do believe the government is sticking its nose in our business a little more than it should. Some people think the Federal Government should control even more of our lives, but that's a whole other issue. If this HUD-92564-CN (8/99) is such a good idea and so helpful to the modern day home buyer why doesn't it apply to all types of mortgage loans. I mean isn't there a government agency that controls or monitors all other mortgage transactions. As a home inspector I would like to know so I can tell them how important it is to know the difference between a home appraisal and a home inspection. But again I don't want to sound like one of those know it all real estate experts. I am not too old to learn. So I am sure there are people out there to set me straight.

Jacob Mermin CHI/CMI

http://mermininspections.com/FHA_Home_Inspections_Disc.pdf FOR A CLEAN COPY OF HUD-92564-CN (8/99) CLICK ON THE LINK BELOW

THE INSPECTOR'S CORNER: MAINTAIN YOUR A/C

Jacob Mermin (Jacob Mermin Inspections) — Sat, 19 Jul 2008 19:17:48 -0500

DO YOU WANT TO SAVE UP TO 30% ON YOUR YEARLY COOLING COSTS? I AM SURE WE ALL DO. THE KEY TO SAVING MONEY ON YOUR ELECTRIC BILL IS REGULAR MAINTENANCE. YOU SHOULD HAVE YOUR AIR CONDITIONING SYSTEM SERVICED TWICE PER YEAR. AN ADDED BENEFIT OF THIS SERVICE ,IT WILL HELP PROTECT YOUR SYSTEM FROM EARLY FAILURE,PREVENT MOLD FROM GROWING IN THE SYSTEM, AND HELP IT PERFORM AT IT'S HIGHEST EFFICIENCY. IT WILL ALSO KEEP YOU FROM FEELING THE HIGH HUMIDITY. LOW HUMIDITY+COLD AIR= COMFORT.

ONE REQUIREMENT WE MUST DO FOR OUR SELVES IS TAKE CARE OF THE FILTER. EITHER CLEAN IT OR REPLACE IT EVERY MONTH. A DIRTY FILTER RESTRICTS AIR FLOW. THIS CAN BE VERY BAD FOR YOUR EQUIPMENT AND THE PEOPLE LIVING IN THE HOUSE. PEOPLE ASK ME ALL THE TIME, HOW OFTEN SHOULD I REPLACE THE FILTER IN MY HOME? I TELL THEM THAT IT DEPENDS ON THE TYPE OF FILTER, HOW OFTEN THEY ARE USING THEIR SYSTEM,AND THE QUALITY OF THEIR INDOOR AIR. THERE ARE ALL TYPES OF FILTERS AVAILABLE. I TELL MY CUSTOMERS THAT THEY SHOULD GET THE BEST FILTER THAT THEY CAN AFFORD. GOOD INDOOR AIR QUALITY IS THE BEST GIFT YOU CAN GIVE YOUR FAMILY. WHEN YOU CAN'T FIND A GIFT FOR SOMEONE WHO HAS EVERYTHING,BUY THAT PERSON A GOOD QUALITY FILTER. THE TYPE OF FILTER YOU CAN USE DEPENDS ON THE APPLICATION. IF YOU HAVE ROOM AT THE AIR HANDLER YOU CAN INSTALL A 5 INCH PLEATED BOX TYPE FILTER. THIS IS THE BEST FLOW THROUGH FILTER YOU CAN BUY. THESE 5 INCH PLEATED FILTERS HAVE TO BE REPLACED ONCE OR TWICE PER YEAR. ANOTHER FINE FILTER IS A METAL FRAMED ELECTROSTATIC FILTER. IT IS USUALLY CUSTOM MADE TO FIT YOUR RETURN GRILL. THERE ARE SOME THAT YOU CAN SIZE AND ADJUST THE FRAME YOUR SELF. WITH THIS TYPE OF FILTER YOU NEED TO CUT THE MEDIA TO SIZE TO FIT THE ADJUSTABLE FRAME. IT IS ALLOT OF WORK TO GET IT SIZED FOR YOUR FILTER RETURN GRILL.THESE HAVE TO BE WASHED EVERY MONTH OR AS THEY BECOME DIRTY, FINALLY THERE ARE ELECTRONIC AIR CLEANERS. THESE HAVE ELECTRONIC PLATES THAT HAVE TO BE TAKEN OUT AND CLEANED MONTHLY. THEY CAN BE PUT IN THE DISHWASHER TO BE CLEANED AND SANITIZED. THE WORST FILTER YOU CAN BUY IS THE FILTER I SEEM TO SEE EVERY DAY. YOU HAVE ALL SEEN THEM. THEY HAVE A CARDBOARD FRAME A BLUE SPUN FIBER GLASS. HERE IS AN EASY TEST TO PROVE TO YOUR SELF THAT FOR EVEN A DOLLAR THEY ARE A WAIST OF MONEY. LAY THE FILTER FLAT ABOVE YOUR SINK AND TAKE A HAND FULL OF SALT AND DROP THE SALT ON THE FILTER. WATCH THE SALT PASS THROUGH THE FILTER INTO THE SINK. THE AVERAGE SIZE OF ONE SALT PARTICLE IS 10 MICRONS. IF A SALT PARTICLE IS GOING TO GO THROUGH THE FILTER I GUESS A POLLEN SPORE, OR MOLD SPORE,AND A PIECE OF DUST SHOULDN'T HAVE ANY PROBLEM GETTING THROUGH TO YOUR EVAPORATOR. DON'T BE AFRAID TO CALL A CERTIFIED MOLD INSPECTOR LIKE ME AND ASK FOR HELP. GOOD INDOOR AIR QUALITY IS MY PASSION. I WILL HELP ANYONE PICK OUT A FILTER FOR THEIR FAMILY.

THE REASON THE FILTER IS SO IMPORTANT IS BECAUSE IT IS PROTECTING THE EVAPORATOR COIL INSIDE THE AIR HANDLER. THE AIR HANDLER IS THE PART OF YOUR AIR CONDITIONING SYSTEM THAT IS ON THE INSIDE. USUALLY IN A CLOSET, YOUR ATTIC, OR IN YOUR GARAGE. IT IS VERY IMPORTANT TO KEEP THIS INSIDE COIL CLEAN. A DIRTY COIL IN THE AIR HANDLER CAN EFFECT YOUR HEALTH, WASTE ENERGY, AND CUT THE CAPACITY OF YOUR COOLING EQUIPMENT. A DIRTY COIL CAN REDUCE AIRFLOW THROUGH THE EQUIPMENT. FOR EACH 10% REDUCTION IN AIRFLOW, THE EFFICIENCY OF THE EQUIPMENT DROPS ABOUT 5%. IN REALITY REDUCED AIRFLOW MEANS LESS COOLING. EVERY THING IN THE INSIDE UNIT CAN CAUSE POOR AIRFLOW AND AIR QUALITY. THE EVAPORATOR COIL IS COLD FROM THE FREON. THE HOT DAMP AIR IN YOUR HOME PASSES THROUGH THE FILTER TO THE EVAPORATOR COIL. THAT COIL IS WET. THIS WET COIL IS A CATCHER OF DUST, DIRT, POLLEN, MOLD, PET DANDER,AND EVEN DUST MITES AND OTHER BUG PARTS. THE BLOWER FINS ALSO GET CLOGGED FROM THESE SAME CONTAMINANTS. MOLD AND OTHER MICROBIAL MATTER CAN GROW INSIDE OF THE AIR HANDLER, ESPECIALLY IN FLORIDA. THE INDOOR UNIT SHOULD BE CHECKED AT LEAST ONCE PER YEAR, MAYBE TWICE A YEAR IF YOU HAVE BREATHING PROBLEMS. THE INSIDE UNIT CAN BE CLEANED, ESPECIALLY THE EVAPORATOR COIL AND BLOWER WHEEL. THIS NEEDS TO BE DONE BY A TRAINED PROFESSIONAL. THIS ISN'T SOMETHING THE HOMEOWNER SHOULD TRY AND DO THEMSELVES. CALL A CERTIFIED MOLD INSPECTOR THAT IS ALSO A CERTIFIED HVAC TECHNICIAN LIKE ME. THE COST OF CLEANING OR OVERHAULING AN INDOOR UNIT WITH THESE TYPES OF PROBLEMS VERY FROM UNIT TO UNIT. IT DEPENDS WHERE THE UNIT IS AND HOW ACCESSIBLE IT IS. THE COST DEPENDS ON IF IT CAN BE CLEANED IN PLACE OR IF IT HAS TO BE REMOVED AND TAKEN OUT SIDE. IF THATS THE CASE, FREON HAS TO BE TAKEN OUT AND STORED UNTIL RE-FILLED. TYPICALLY IT RUNS FROM THE EASIEST IN PLACE JOB OF $100.00 TO THE MOST DIFFICULT REMOVAL JOB OF $500.00 OR MORE. IT CAN TAKE FROM ONE HOUR TO A HALF A DAY. THE BEST THING TO DO IS FIND SOMEONE YOU CAN TRUST AND GET THEIR ADVICE.

STAY TUNED UNTIL NEXT TIME WHEN I WILL TALK ABOUT THE OUTSIDE CONDENSER UNIT AND THE DUCT WORK IN YOUR ATTIC. I WILL LET YOU KNOW HOW YOU CAN SAVE MONEY THIS SUMMER ON YOUR ELECTRIC BILL. AND HOW WE CAN GET YOU BETTER AIRFLOW AND BETTER INDOOR AIR QUALITY.

JACOB MERMIN CHI/CMI

www.mermininspections.com

239-243-7322

THE INSPECTOR'S CORNER: CHEAP DUCT CLEANING

Jacob Mermin (Jacob Mermin Inspections) — Sun, 08 Jun 2008 17:17:15 -0500

I was looking in the newspaper and I saw an ad for one of those CHEAP duct cleaning offers. I am sure you have seen the one where you can get your first 5 ducts cleaned for only $25.00. They never tell you in the ad how much the rest of your ducts are going to cost to clean. How about the carpet cleaning company that can also clean your air ducts? These companies never tell you about their credentials. One CHEAP ad said they were EPA certified. EPA Certified in what? I have an EPA certification to work with Freon and work on air conditioners. I am also a certified mold and IAQ inspector. They never say they have a certified mold inspector CMI or certified indoor environmentalist CIE on staff. They have neither of these certifications but insist they can clean your ducts. The carpet cleaning company doesn't advertise any of these certifications or licenses, but after they clean your carpets and furniture your ducts can be next. Only about 30% of licensed air conditioning companies in SW. Florida have gone to the expense of buying duct cleaning equipment.

The problem that I have with these CHEAP duct cleaning companies is they are not licensed or qualified to perform this service correctly and they don't even tell you the whole story. Let me tell you the whole story. First of all lets start with air conditioning 101. An air conditioning system consists of basically 3 parts. First we have the condenser, which is usually outside next to your house. Second is the air handler which is normally in your garage, closet, or in your attic. Third is your duct system. An air conditioning system is basically a de-humidifier with cold air being a by-product. The compressor outside in the condenser pumps Freon coolant into the evaporator coil which is in your air handler. That evaporator coil gets cold. Every cubic feet of air in your house re-circulates through the filter to the evaporator coil. From there it goes to the blower and is sent to the duct system and out your vents. Now this is constantly happening during the cooling cycle every time you run your system. I know it's taking for ever to get to my point but I am getting there. I am about to tie it all together. The average home owner goes to Wal-Mart and buys the cheapest filter they can find. Most homeowners are not going to spend very much money on something they don't want to deal with to begin with. Unfortunately that cheap filter is causing the problem that we are discussing. Dirt, dust, pollen, pet dander, and microbial growth are being sent through the duct system and out into your house.

Now here it comes what I have been venting about. Those CHEAP duct cleaning companies who are not licensed to open up your air conditioner's air handler don't tell you or can't tell you that after you pay for your ducts to be cleaned, that they are only going to get dirty again. You see these companies don't clean the evaporator coil, blower motor, and the interior insulation of your air handler. It doesn't make any sense to have all your ducts cleaned with out cleaning the air conditioner. In the 20 years I have been working on air conditioning systems and dealing with indoor air quality I haven't seen too many duct system that don't also have a dirty contaminated air handler. Call an expert before you give these CHEAP duct cleaning companies your money.

REMEMBER THIS: "WITHOUT QUALITY AIR, WE CANNOT HAVE QUALITY OF LIFE"

Jacob Mermin CMI/CHI

www.mermininspections.com

239-243-7322

THE INSPECTOR'S CORNER: The air conditioning guy said. "YOU HAVE MOLD IN YOUR AIR CONDITIONER"

Jacob Mermin (Jacob Mermin Inspections) — Mon, 05 May 2008 20:19:48 -0500

Has that ever happend to you? Some air conditioning companies are using scare tactics with the M word.. mold. In prior years air conditioning contractors who relyed on scare tactics to sell new air conditioners used the F word.. fire. It was usually in a sentance like " hey lady if you don't get this out of here it could start a fire, and there goes your house." Now it seems air conditioning contractors are all mold experts. Mold is the new scare tactic used on alot of unsuspecting home owners who believe the a/c guy is an expert. "ya it's mold lady, it's that black mold." If a so called mold expert says somthing similar to this, there is a very good chance he doesn't now what he is talking about. Chances are he wants to sell you a new air conditioner whether you need one or not. No one should ever under any circumstances tell you that you have mold with out a complete inspection and lab testing. I am a certified mold inspector and home inspector trained to recognize mold and I never tell anyone they have mold with out testing. The correct statement these air conditioning technicians should be saying is " it could be mold, I don't know I am not a certified mold inspector, but i can recommend one." The first thing I do is show my customer my credentials to put them at ease. This assures them that they have a trained professional in their home. So remember, no one can tell you that you definitely have mold. Remember samples have to be taken and sent to a certified lab. Remember if some one says they're a mold expert, ask to see their credentials.

New Construction Warranty Inspection. Even if the builder is now a friend

Jacob Mermin (Jacob Mermin Inspections) — Tue, 25 Mar 2008 21:12:33 -0500

Most major construction flaws go unnoticed for 3 to 5 years. In this time period these flaws could cost thousands of dollars to repair. And guess what? The builder is no longer responsible. At Jacob Mermin Inspections we have been doing a lot of inspections just prior to the one year home warranty expires. In all this time I have discovered one thing, after all the time people spend with their builder they have become good friends. My advice to all those people. What's more important, your families safety and your investment, or your friendship with your builder. I also bring up that most builders do not remind their home buyers that their one year warranty is about to expire. Trust me he doesn't love you that much. He can't wait for that year to expire so he isn't liable anymore for any builder defects or mistakes. Don't get me wrong, there are many more good builders than bad. Most of the Warranty Inspections were handled very well by the builder. Many more than not took care of problems quickly and professionally. My point is that it is your responsibility to have an inspections done before it expires and don't count on anyone else. While many items are hidden from view it is not too late for defects in workmanship to be caught by the trained eye of the experienced inspector. A proper inspection will include: Your mechanical systems: Heating, air conditioning, plumbing, electrical. These will include: Hvac, all plumbing fixtures, including hot water heater, and pipes, main electrical panel, breakers, switches, outlets, including ground fault indicators,(gfi). Your roof system: Rafters, roof covering, and vents. soffit and facia. Home structure: Including foundation, type of building materials for walls etc. and insulation. Your garage including: The garage door, garage door opener and driveway. Appliances: Including all the appliances that came with the home, usually stove, refrigerator, dishwasher, built in microwave, garbage disposal etc. Windows, door, and floor coverings. All visible defects will be noted in a written report. As many pictures will be taken and included as needed to give the client a accurate picture of the condition of their home before the warranty expires. Make sure you bring any concerns to the inspector so he can give them special treatment if needed. With Jacob Mermin Inspecitions you get the regular home inspection plus a air conditioning inspection. A indoor air quality inspection and mold inspection is also included. If there is a mold issue, the moisture source needs to be found and testing maybe needed. This last opportunity inspection is essential in providing you with piece of mind you deserve. This is a warranty provided to you from your builder. If you feel there is a problem with your home this is your last chance to protect your investment and insure your family's safety. Do not feel bad for your builder even if you have become friends. Remember he didn't call to remind you that your one year warranty was about to expire. Jacob Mermin is a InterNachi certified home inspector, Micro certified mold inspector, Aire certified air quality specialist and a Epa certified Hvac technician. Visit Jacob Mermin at the Inspectors Corner. Jacob Mermin CHI/CMI www.mermininspections.com 239-243-7322

THE INSPECTOR'S CORNER:Ultra Violet light: Does it really work?

Jacob Mermin (Jacob Mermin Inspections) — Sun, 16 Mar 2008 13:59:57 -0500

When DNA is exposed to UV light, It's chemical bonding characteristics are altered so that cell reproduction no longer takes place - rendering the micro-organism harmless.

The ultraviolet region of the electromagnetic spectrum has a frequency just below visible light. Ultraviolet light is nature's way of controlling micro-organisms.Outdoors, germs are naturally regulated by ultraviolet light from the sun.

Ultraviolet light equipment produces ultraviolet light at the specific wavelength of 254mn (nanometers). At this wavelength the UV light is most effective at inactivation. As an airborne micro-organism passes through your heating and /or air conditioning system, the UV light penetrates the organism's membrane and alters its genetic material (DNA). With altered DNA, the micro-organism will no longer be able to reproduce, making it effectively harmless. Further, without the ability to reproduce, and due to the short lifespan of most micro-organisms, the population of them in the air diminishes rapidly and dramatically.

Information provided by ultravation light equipment specifications.

FINAL NOTES:In the past few years,as the popularity of Ultra-Violet lights has increased, information about these lights has been as varied as the air conditioning service and salesman's pitch. Here are a few things every home owner should know before having one of these installed on your system. In the case of UV lights, size does matter. The better units are going to have longer bulbs and are going to come in pairs. I always advise my clients to spend as much as they can afford on any IAQ product. One of the most important things to remember that a UV light does not clean an evaporator coil, blower motor or the interior of a Air Handler. A Ultra-Violet light will keep them clean. In other words everything inside that air handler needs to be cleaned before the light is installed in the air handler. I recommend to my clients that they get a unit that has two bulbs, one is placed on the return side just below the coil. The second bulb is placed on the supply side just after the evaporator coil and before the blower motor. Many customers have asked me, "If I have a UV light do I need a filter." The answer is an absolute yes. Again I tell my clients Buy the best filter system you can afford. I will write another bog soon about these filters. To recap: Buy a dual bulb UV light, buy the best one you can afford, have it installed after your A/C system is cleaned, better yet when a new one is installed. Bulbs should be replaced ever year. The better units will have a ten year warranty on the power head.

The Inspectors Corner

Jacob Mermin CHI/CMI

http://www.mermininspections.com/

A/C Preventive Maintenance "Fact or Fiction"

Jacob Mermin (Jacob Mermin Inspections) — Thu, 13 Mar 2008 12:37:39 -0500

Regular preventive maintenance on your air conditioning system may be more important than having your car serviced. We change our car's oil every three thousand miles and follow a strict maintenance schedule set up by the dealer with the owner's manual. Most Americans follow these guidelines. This ensures that our car remains dependable and fuel efficient. When the time comes to trade in that vehicle it helps to have all service and repair records.

When you think about it, taking care of our air conditioning systems is very similar. It is our most expensive appliance and we actually use it more than we use our cars. If we have regular maintenance once or twice per year, we know our system is going to keep its efficiency and be very dependable. When the time comes to put our home on the market, a properly maintained HVAC system will be an asset, not a liability. Your equipment manufacturer recommends at least yearly service to protect your warranties. No documented service at emergency repair time can make it more difficult to get help from the manufacturer when it comes to those warranties.

Your electric company would also like for you to service your system. They know a well maintained system is more efficient and saves everyone energy. Just check your electric bill; there you will see tips on products and suggestions to improve your equipment's efficiency and dependability. You will also see ideas to improve your indoor air quality. Ask your technician to explain any items you may not understand. Please contact us with your questions, or request a free consultation on your indoor air environment, or your air conditioning system.

Jacob Mermin is an EPA certified type 2 HVAC Technician. What this means is that we can totally tear apart you're a/c if f needed. Most inspectors can only take a temperature split and visually inspect the a/c system form the outside. With Jacob Mermin being a MICRO certified mold inspector and an AIRE certified indoor air quality specialist any problems with the a/c system, from the condenser to the air handler, from the ductwork to filtration, you won't need to call in another company.

Jacob Mermin Inspections

http://www.mermininspections.com/

239-243-7322

DID YOUR LAST OPEN HOUSE STINK?

Jacob Mermin (Jacob Mermin Inspections) — Wed, 05 Mar 2008 15:05:51 -0600

I don't know how many times one of my realtor clients have called me in a panic that their open house planned for the coming weekend STINKS. Sw. Florida could be the "STINKY OPEN HOUSE" capitol of the United States. I have found that the sick building or dirty sock syndrome house is very prevalent in Sw Florida. Homes that have been in foreclosure and closed up for a long period of time have been a headache for my realtor clients. Being a home inspector with dual certification as a mold and IAQ inspector has solved many of those problems. A Lee County Sellstate agent doesn't call me in a panic anymore. When he comes across a home that smells like his teenage son's bedroom he calls me. I investigate the problem and come up with the solution to take the listing off the "STINKY HOUSE REGESTRY" Jacob Mermin Inspections has all types of equipment to make indoor air breathable. Worst case scenario I have an ozone blaster that can get rid of just about any odors. Mold can grow at about 70% humidity. In Sw Florida when it's 50 degrees it can still be 90% humidity. Mold only needs two things to grow moisture and a food source. The next time you walk into a future open house and you smell that musty odor, there is a very good chance you have an active mold colony getting bigger right before your eyes.

I have a great relationship with many realtors in Sw Florida. Many have put me on their teams. When I am brought in on an open house I help my realtor make that home as presentable as possible. I also sit those open houses with the realtor and answer any questions the home buyer might have. I know how boring an open house can be, but now I know that the open house will not be a "STINKY OPEN HOUSE". In closing I would recommend that all realtors should find their own mold or IAQ inspector, make friends with him or her and bring them on your team. Your clients will thank you.

Jacob Mermin CHI/CMI

www.mermininspections.com

CERTIFIED MOVE IN READY

Jacob Mermin (Jacob Mermin Inspections) — Wed, 05 Mar 2008 09:07:12 -0600

NACHI, National Association of Certified Home Inspectors is now called the International Association of Certified Home Inspectors. InterNachi has a new progam called Certified Move In Ready. Real Estate professionals are encouraged to recommend to their sellers to have their properties inspected when it's put on the market. There are numerous advantages to the realtor and the seller. You as the realtor can recommend me a InterNachi certified home inspector instead of being at the mercy of the buyer's inspector. Your sellers can schedule the inspection at their convenience, directly with me, with little effort on your part. Your sellers can assist me during the inspection, something not normally done during a buyer's inspection. Your sellers can have me correct any misstatements in my reports before I generate them. My reports help sellers see their home through the eyes of a critical, third-party, thus making sellers more realistic about the asking price. I will allert you to any immediate saftey issues I find before other agents and potential buyers tour the homes I inspect. Repairs made ahead of time might make your listings show better. My reports provide third-party, unbeased opinions to offer to potential buyers. My reports can be used as marketing tools to help sell homes. My reports might relieve prospective buyer's unfounded suspicions, before the walk away. Seller inspections reduce the need for negotiations and 11th- hour renegotiations. Seller inspections relieve you of having to hurriedly procure repair estimates or schedule repairs. My reports might encourage buyers to waive their inspection contingencies. Your deals are less likely to fall apart the way they often do when buyer's inspections unexpectedly reveal problems, last minute. My reports provide full-disclosure protection from future legal claims. A seller inspection reveals problems ahead of time which: Might make the home show better, gives the seller time to make repairs and show the repair estimates or paid invoices removes over-inflated buyer procured estimates from the negotiation table. Jacob Mermin Inspections promotes the Move In Certified Program. Each inspection includes the home Inspection, a mold inspection, a IAQ inspection,and a HVAC inspection. After the inspections are complete a sign is placed in your sellers yard next to your real estate sign stateing this home is Certified Move In Ready

Jacob Mermin CHI/CMI