nashville home inspections: Should Family be Treated Any Different than Any Other Customer? - 07/21/08 07:15 PM
Today, while inspecting a new property for a former client, I recognized a real estate agent that I had not seen for some time. After a few minutes of small talk and chit chat, I asked how here business was doing and was she busy. She said that she was very … (25 comments)
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nashville home inspections: What You Don't See Can Be Costly... - 07/19/08 06:05 AM
When real estate agents and their buyers look at a property, more often than not, they are looking at the aesthetics of the property not the functionality. Initially when the untrained eye looks at this photo, one sees a sees a cool looking stairwell, loft and a nice clean open space. … (12 comments)
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nashville home inspections: Down the Ladder He Came with a Bound… - 07/18/08 04:29 PM
Unlike the as in the famous poem, The Night Before Christmas, sometimes the prancing and pawing that you hear above your head is not the little, fat, jolly, present leaving elf and his 8 tiny reindeer that we love to have visit us every year. More often than not, it is … (9 comments)
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nashville home inspections: Photo of the Day... - 07/18/08 07:15 AM
I love the older, more experienced properties. Like many of our more ‘experienced’ citizens, there are certainly stories to tell, and a journal of what has historically happened in its life.
Yesterday while inspecting a property not too far from the world famous Opryland Hotel, I ran across this unusual repair … (18 comments)
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nashville home inspections: Photo of the Day... - 07/14/08 04:42 PM
As most of you know by now, flexible plastic venting for clothes dryer venting has been banned for use in residential properties for many years because it is considered a fire hazard. But I guess that our 'ol buddy Bubba just hasn't read the latest and greatest on this regulation. Maybe … (19 comments)
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nashville home inspections: Photo of the Day... Another one of Bubba's Misadventures - 06/28/08 05:16 AM
Well, it looks as if our ‘ol buddy ‘Bubba’ has been hard at it playing plumber again once again. Yeah buddy! While inspecting a “flipper” in Nashville, TN, I could not help but laugh and shake my head at another one of his ongoing misadventures. The picture below shows how installing … (18 comments)
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nashville home inspections: Isn’t There A Screen Saver That Looks Like This? - 06/26/08 08:01 AM
As we all know, art is 95% inspiration and 5% perspiration, but in the case of ‘Bubba’ our unhandy handyman, it’s probably the other way around… While inspecting a rehab on the east side Nashville, TN, I was mused by this resemblance to an old screen saver. I guess that since … (8 comments)
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nashville home inspections: Photo of the Day... - 06/20/08 07:56 PM
It seems as if our 'ol buddy Bubba has been having a rough week this week. No sooner does he have one botched misadventure playing carpenter on this rehab project in the Hillsboro Village section of Nashville, TN than he decides to try his hand at plumbing again. Yeah Buddy! I … (7 comments)
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nashville home inspections: Photo of the Day... - 06/19/08 04:09 PM
While inspecting a newly rehabbed property in Nashville, TN’s Hillsboro Village section, I ran across another misadventure of Bubba, our unhandy handyman… Yeah Buddy! Well, either 'ol our buddy Bubba uncorked one too many brewskies or the bubble was off in his level. Maybe his bubble is off period! Who … (7 comments)
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nashville home inspections: Photo of the Day... - 06/13/08 07:21 PM
I love inspecting rehabs… I love inspecting rehabs… I love inspecting rehabs… At least that is what I keep telling myself. There are some properties that are about as much fun to inspect as a sharp stick in the eye. Today I had a real doozie. I will not bother reprinting … (7 comments)
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nashville home inspections: Photo of the Day... - 06/13/08 06:10 AM
It never ceases to amaze me as to what people will do to find better ways to cut corners just to save a buck. While inspecting a rehab yesterday in the Nashville, TN area, I came across this not so smart way to connect the disposal. The non-metallic wire needs to … (14 comments)
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nashville home inspections: Photo of The Day - The Hidden Bomb in Your Home . . . - 06/07/08 05:44 AM
Yes! Every home has a bomb tucked away somewhere. It may be in your garage, attic, basement or under your stairwell. As innocent as it may seem, the bomb is your water heater. Should the heating elements within this pressure vessel fail to turn off for one reason or another, there … (9 comments)
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nashville home inspections: Don't Get Caught in This Trap . . . - 06/02/08 06:57 PM
Remember when you were a kid and sang songs like "Here we go loop de do, Here we go loop de lie . . ." Nothing wrong with happy songs and a happy plumbers. I guess that we could all use a little more happiness in our lives. But, all I … (12 comments)
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nashville home inspections: Does Your Home Inspector Look for Safety Recalls? - 06/01/08 01:43 PM
At least once a week, I run across an appliance that is on a recall list from some major appliance manufacturer. This week, I ran across 2 GE dishwashers that are on the Consumer Product Safety Commissions (CPSC) list of recalled appliances. With about 2.5 million of these manufactured, there are … (6 comments)
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nashville home inspections: Photo of the Day . . . - 05/31/08 07:40 PM
It never ceases to amaze me the workmanship that I see in some of the houses that I see built today. This menagerie was used to support a support column for a set of arched load bearing walls in a high end house in Brentwood. The sellers did not get a … (11 comments)
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nashville home inspections: Funny Photo of the Day . . . - 05/30/08 06:04 PM
The other day while inspecting a property on Nashville, Tennessee’s’ east side, I ran across this interesting installation of a light switch. Looks like Bubba and his buddies really thought long and hard about this one. I do have to give them “I” for ingenuity at least they didn’t use duct … (11 comments)
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nashville home inspections: Funny Photo of the Day . . . - 05/23/08 07:11 AM
This is one that you don't see every day thank Goodness! While inspecting a house in the Nashville, TN area I could not help but admire Bubba's quality craftsmanship on this outlet installation. I do like someone who is detail oriented don't you? I do have to give him E for … (8 comments)
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nashville home inspections: The builder said, "That was one of the earlier attempts.” - 05/16/08 05:39 PM
The other day I was inspecting a $1.2M, 5 year old property in a gated community in Franklin, TN where most of the properties range from $850K - $3M. I told the man I was training to be a home inspector, that structurally, there was something dreadfully wrong with the property. … (16 comments)
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nashville home inspections: Photo of the Day . . . - 05/15/08 04:35 PM
It looks as if our ‘ol buddy Bubba has been hard at it again. While I was inspecting a house in the north east section of Nashville, TN today, I happened to notice this gas appliance venting on the house across the street that was also for sale. Yeah Buddy, with … (8 comments)
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nashville home inspections: Photo of the Day . . . - 05/08/08 05:01 AM
People do things a little differently here in Tennessee as compared to other parts of the country. We have even been chided as being “One of those Redneck States”. Well, I’m here to tell you that rednecks are alive and well in this State as this installation of the garbage disposal … (19 comments)
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nashville home inspections: Photo of the Day - 05/06/08 06:48 PM
Common sense. Is it something that some are born with while others lack what God gave a common goose? Or, is it really the change pot that sets next to the cash register in the local jiffy mart – give a penny take a penny? Heck, I don’t know any more. … (9 comments)
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nashville home inspections: Bats in Your Belfry? - 05/03/08 03:48 AM
Ah, tis the time of season when young couples build a house and raise a family. Before you know it, there is the twittering and twattering of little feet prancing around. This time of year, birds start nesting and start raising broods. Open venting in the sides of your home are … (6 comments)
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nashville home inspections: Photo of the Day . . . - 05/02/08 05:54 AM
Framing failures do not just occur in newer properties. While inspecting an older property in the eastern section of Nashville, the builder improperly spliced a hip rafter which is leading to a structural failure in the roof. The spliced ends are starting to open up and the upper side of the … (10 comments)
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nashville home inspections: Photo of the Day . . . - 05/01/08 06:00 AM
I really do my best to keep up on the latest and greatest technology especially when it comes to new construction. The other day while doing a framing inspection at a new subdivision that they are building in the Brentwood, TN area, I came across the latest and greatest in window … (13 comments)
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nashville home inspections: Photo of the Day . . . - 04/30/08 05:41 AM
How to Burn Your House Down With Out Really Trying . . .
Much as been written and posted on the Internet and here in Active Rain about dryers and dryer venting and why proper venting for these appliances is so very important. A friend of mine, Charles Buell an inspector … (9 comments)
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nashville home inspections: Photo of the Day - 04/28/08 04:49 PM
Home inspectors are not just a pretty face in the crowd. They really have to know their craft especially when it comes to new homes and framing inspections. As part of the services we offer for our clients, framing inspections are imperative since far too often, major framing faults and structural … (7 comments)
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nashville home inspections: Running Out of Hot Water? This May Be Why . . . - 04/28/08 04:31 AM
It seems as if here lately I have been running into many 40 gallon electric water heaters in my inspections, especially in new construction and rehabs. Depending upon the application, I write these up as being improperly sized. Here’s why.
The selection of a particular type hot water supply system … (4 comments)
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nashville home inspections: Earth Day - Should It Only Be for One Day a Year? - 04/26/08 04:26 AM
This week, Active Rain was all abuzz with postings about Earth Day as there must have been at least 2 zillion posts about it. And, I think that is great because we only have one planet, and once this one gets screwed up, there ain't no going to another. Being good … (10 comments)
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nashville home inspections: Photo of the Day . . . - 04/25/08 05:24 AM
While inspecting a two year old townhouse in Nashville, TN's west side, I saw this unusual installation for the water heater. The fan unit is not what is unusual, as it is not uncommon to see this forced systems on gas water heaters in this area. What is unusual, is that … (13 comments)
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nashville home inspections: How Old Is Your Heating & Cooling System? - 04/24/08 06:47 AM
This is the first in a series of posts that I am going to make on how to read the serial numbers for the more popular units in my area. I am going to start with Goodman heating and cooling products out of Houston, TX. These are very common to see … (5 comments)
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nashville home inspections: Photo of the Day . . . - 04/23/08 05:09 AM
As a member of The American Society of Home Inspectors (ASHI) for the past five years and a licensed home inspector for the state of Tennessee for the past 2, there are certain guidelines that we must follow when inspecting a property. I cannot speak for other home inspectors in other … (6 comments)
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nashville home inspections: Photo of the Day . . . - 04/22/08 09:49 AM
The attached photo is a classic example why insurance companies classify extension cords as a fire safety hazard. The home owner used an extension cord that was designed and rated for light duty use such as lamps and other light duty appliances to run the air conditioner unit. Depending upon … (9 comments)
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nashville home inspections: Not All Home Inspectors Are Created Equal . . . - 04/19/08 04:07 AM
Not all home inspectors are created equal. The truth to that statement became really apparent yesterday while inspecting a relatively new property in the Franklin Tennessee area. The owner agent for this property confidently told me that he had just had this property inspected by HIS inspector a few months … (16 comments)
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nashville home inspections: Plastic Dryer Vents Are A Fire Safety Hazard in Your Home - Here's Picture Proof . . . - 04/17/08 05:59 PM
Plastic dryer venting has been banned from residential usage for several years now. This type of material is considered a fire safety hazard and should be replaced if you have this present in your home. While inspecting an older property in Brentwood, TN today I ran across sections of plastic … (5 comments)
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nashville home inspections: House Bulldozer, Bulldozer House, Now That We Have Been Formally Introduced . . . - 04/17/08 05:59 AM
If any of you have been in the real estate business for any length of time like I have, I'm sure that like me you have fond memories of people or properties that you would not have rather seen or met. I know that I say that a little bit sarcastically, … (10 comments)
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nashville home inspections: Photo of the Day . . . - 04/16/08 06:28 AM
I have seen mushrooms growing outside of a house as well as under a house. But, this is the first time that I've ever seen mushrooms growing inside a house! Obviously, the builders of this house from hell -- excuse me, I mean new construction property -- has a minor problem. … (16 comments)
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nashville home inspections: Contunuous Radon Monitors v/s Charcoal Canisters - 04/14/08 06:48 AM
The middle Tennessee area is considered a high radon belt according to the EPA. There are several different types of radon monitoring equipment in the marketplace approved for real estate transactions. The most common are the charcoal canisters and the continuous monitoring equipment. Some home inspectors like to use the charcoal … (8 comments)
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nashville home inspections: Photo of the Day . . . - 04/11/08 06:08 AM
There is a right way and a wrong way to do things especially when it comes to installing a roof covering. The pictures in this post are a pictorial representation of how NOT to install rolled roofing or shingles for that matter. While inspecting a property in Franklin, TN, this 3 … (11 comments)
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nashville home inspections: Historic Downtown Franklin, TN - 04/06/08 03:52 AM
On October 26, 1799, The City of Franklin, TN was founded. Dr. Hugh Williamson, a member of the Continental Congress for whom Williamson County was named, named the city after his close friend Benjamin Franklin. For almost all of its existence, Franklin has been a small quiet town and the county … (7 comments)
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nashville home inspections: Photo of the Day . . . - 04/03/08 06:59 AM
The other day while inspecting a property in Nashville TN, I ran across this unique way of stopping a leaking gate valve. As this property had been rehabbed, and the caulking was still soft, I really cannot blame this one on the home owner. Once again, just proving my case that … (6 comments)
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nashville home inspections: These Bands Don't Play Cool Tunes! - 04/02/08 04:44 AM
Unlike the Fab Four, best known for their hit song, “I Wanna Hold Your Flashlight”, there are some bands out there that don’t play cool tunes. An example of this is the Carbon Fiber Band. Every time I see this group, it normally spells trouble.
Carbon fiber bands are generally … (11 comments)
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nashville home inspections: Historic Franklin, TN - Hincheyville - 04/01/08 05:46 AM
Just south of 5 points in historic downtown Franklin, TN sets Franklin’s first subdivision Hincheyville. The subdivision was developed in early 1819 by Felix Grundy, James Irwin, and James Trimble. The ninety acres, extending from Fair Street to Eleventh Avenue had 26 lots on Fair Street, 25 lots on Main Street … (5 comments)
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nashville home inspections: Photo of the Day . . . - 03/30/08 06:23 AM
This post was created by Windows Live and Picasa Web Album.
This posting and the contents written here are the intellectual property of Michael Thornton of Complete Home Inspections, Inc. providing home inspections for Brentwood, Nashville, Davidson and Williamson Counties of Middle Tennessee. The views and opinions expressed are … (11 comments)
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nashville home inspections: Photo of the day . . . - 03/29/08 04:15 AM
Home inspectors in the State of Tennessee do no have to be licensed for pest control like some other licensed states. However; when inspecting a property, I do keep an eye out for these little critters that can literally eat you out of house and home. While inspecting the crawl … (9 comments)
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nashville home inspections: Photo of the day . . . - 03/28/08 05:31 AM
Home inspectors have to know and look at more than the house they are evaluating. A classic example of this is happened yesterday while I was inspecting a property in Spring Hill, TN in southern Williamson County. Driving into the subdivision, I noticed that all the houses had new roofs … (10 comments)
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nashville home inspections: Photo of the day . . . - 03/27/08 06:06 AM
One of the services that I provide for my clients, are pre-drywall or framing inspections on new construction properties. While inspecting this new construction house on Nashville’s east side yesterday I came across this unusual foundation for the brick veneer siding. Apparently, when the block foundation stem wall was installed, … (8 comments)
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nashville home inspections: Photo of the day . . . - 03/25/08 05:21 AM
Every now and then I run across a home owner who likes to color coordinate their outlets to match the color of their walls. This is definitely not a good idea and especially when it comes to GFCI outlets. When these are painted over, the paint will often jam the … (8 comments)
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nashville home inspections: Photo of the day . . . - 03/22/08 05:26 AM
This seems to be my week for picking on plumbers. I don't know why, maybe it's just because I have seen too many things that have have done which does not make any sense. Yesterday, while inspecting a rehabbed property in a mature section of Nashville, TN, I came across … (20 comments)
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nashville home inspections: Photo of the day . . . - 03/21/08 05:49 AM
This seems to be my week for inspecting new construction properties. Part of the inspection process is to do the “obligatory” crawl through the area where codes inspectors, most home owners and real estate agents fear to tread.
When houses are designed by the architect, care is taken so … (14 comments)
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nashville home inspections: Photo of the day . . . - 03/20/08 07:06 AM
I was inspecting a new construction property in Nashville, TN yesterday and ran across this professional installation of an air handler and condensate pump. Professional contractors will install a bracket on the side of the air handler on which to mount the pump and an outlet for power. This contractor … (6 comments)
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nashville home inspections: Photo of the day . . . - 03/19/08 06:04 AM
While inspecting a new construction property in Nashville, TN yesterday, I came across this “unusual” venting system for the gas water heater. The water heater was located in the mechanical room off the finished basement and all that separated this room from the finished basement area was a louvered door … (12 comments)
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nashville home inspections: Crawlspaces and Radon Gas . . . - 03/18/08 07:08 AM
One of the biggest misconceptions about radon gas is that if the property has a crawl space, the crawl space venting will dissipate the gas to the outside. WRONG! I have been doing home inspections in the Nashville, TN area the past few days, and on two of the properties, … (10 comments)
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nashville home inspections: Photo of the Day . . . - 03/15/08 06:14 AM
It is often said that a picture is worth a thousand words plus or minus a few. I am sure that this driver pulling this mobile home had a few choice words to say, and I would bet you a "milyun" that the words weren't, "Rut Ro!" or "I knew that … (13 comments)
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nashville home inspections: Plumbers - Origin of the Word . . . - 03/04/08 06:12 AM
A plumber is a
tradesperson (questionable term at times) who installs and maintains the potable
(drinking) water and sewage systems in our homes. But, did you ever wonder
where the term plumber comes from or how it originated?
I have done
some research on this as I knew some … (7 comments)
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nashville home inspections: Another GE Appliance Recall . . . - 03/03/08 04:45 AM
General Electric has issued
another recall for some of their appliances. Back in December 2007, GE issued a
recall of some 92,000
Microwave Combo Wall Ovens Due to a Fire Hazard. The link to the Consumer
Products Safety Commission (CPSC ) regarding this recall is
HERE. These
appliances were sold at … (5 comments)
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nashville home inspections: Midway Plantation - Brentwood Country Club - 02/28/08 04:16 AM
Traveling south out
of Brentwood, TN along one of Tennessee’s many
highways and byways, stands a historical marker at the entrance to Brentwood
Country Club Estates. The site was originally the site of Midway Plantation,
appropriately named because it was located midway between Franklin, TN and
Nashville, TN, was owned … (7 comments)
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nashville home inspections: Would You Take a Bath In This Water? - 02/23/08 06:10 AM
Part of the property inspection is to check
the plumbing fixtures and functionally test whirlpool tubs. I was surprised when
I came back in the bathroom to see the bath water looking like this. Yeech! Who
would want to take a bath in this?
It is not uncommon to … (16 comments)
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nashville home inspections: HVAC Contractor Must Have Had a Bad Day . . . - 01/30/08 04:53 AM
The
HVAC contractor who installed the furnaces and air handling units for this new
construction property must have been having a bad day. The first error in the
attached picture is quite obvious. The HVAC contractor forgot to finish sealing
the ductwork to the side of the air handling unit. … (9 comments)
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nashville home inspections: Electrical Codes Inspectors Miss More Than You Think . . . - 01/25/08 05:49 AM
Having
been an electrical engineer and a licensed electrician in a prior life, I am
critical on electrical issues especially when it comes to the safety of my
clients. Yesterday, I inspected a new construction property and one that was
about 4 years old that did not have an inspection … (14 comments)
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nashville home inspections: GFCI Failures Can Be Fatal . . . When Did You Last Check Yours? - 01/24/08 05:25 AM
Ground
Fault Circuit Interrupter (GFCI) devices have been in properties in varying
degrees since the early 1970's. Failures in these devices are the number one
common electrical issue that I comment on when doing property inspections. Like
most items in a home, not too much thought are given to items … (10 comments)
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nashville home inspections: Rusted Flues on Package Units - Things You and Your Customer Should Know - 01/16/08 05:55 AM
As
part of the inspection process, we are required
to evaluate and comment on the condition of package units, furnaces and
compressor units. Periodically, I come across an older package unit where there
is excessive rusting around the exhaust venting for the enclosed built-in
furnace. As a rule, I see … (5 comments)
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nashville home inspections: How Hot is Your Water? - 01/12/08 05:40 AM
Hot water
systems must supply water at temperatures hot enough to meet cleaning demands
but not so hot as to risk injury to people. Children, the disabled, and the
elderly are most susceptible to hot water-related injuries. Currently, the
maximum
temperature criteria calls for temperatures to be in the … (5 comments)
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nashville home inspections: s Mold Killing Your Deal? Part I of 3 . . . - 01/11/08 06:02 AM
Just
mention the “M” word during an inspection, and
it seems as if all parties involved in the property transaction freak out! I
really feel that the whole mold situation has been grossly blown out of
proportion. It seems as if all molds are bundled into the same category as … (3 comments)
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nashville home inspections: Do You Check the Dishwasher During Your Final Walk-Through? - 01/10/08 06:41 AM
While doing your final walk-through, do you or
your clients check the dishwasher? This is one mechanical device that can
cause some homeowners some unexpected grief or expense after the closing at
escrow. Having completed over 2500 property inspections over the past 7 years,
here are some tips:
Start the … (7 comments)
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nashville home inspections: Garage Water Heater Installations . . . Flammable Vapor Protection - 01/09/08 06:18 AM
A few times a month,
I run across gas water heaters that has been installed either on the floor, or a
few inches off the floor. Mechanical codes state that for fuel burring units
such as gas and oil, the combustion chamber and ignition source should be a
minimum of … (2 comments)
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nashville home inspections: Photos of the Day . . . - 01/09/08 05:12 AM
Well,
it seems as if our old buddy Unhandy Andy has
been hard at work again - this time as an electrician. After spending months
building a work shop out in the back of the house, it seems as if he wanted to
find ways to burn it down in … (4 comments)
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nashville home inspections: Beware of Mold in Attics . . . - 01/07/08 06:21 AM
More and more these days, as production houses
get built, I am seeing more signs of mold in the attics. Many building
contractor are just pooh-poohing this off as "A certain amount of water staining
is considered normal". Water staining maybe, but mold? No! What they
don't want to say is … (1 comments)
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nashville home inspections: I Always Get Suspicious When ... - 01/05/08 08:39 AM
I
get a lot of comments from folks out there in AR
stating that I could probably write a book about all the things that I have
seen. There right! I never have to think what I need to write about. All I
have to do is go through my … (5 comments)
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nashville home inspections: More work from Unhandy Andy . . . - 01/05/08 08:12 AM
Well,
it looks as if the infamous Unhandy Andy has been
hard at work again. You know him, the knot-headed nitwit of the construction
world whose motto must be "We Will Make It Work". This guy must be ambidextrous,
because he can take a job and screw it up with … (7 comments)
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nashville home inspections: Looks as if Unhandy Andy has been working here . . . - 01/05/08 07:38 AM
It
has been said, that a picture is worth 998 works +/- a few, and this picture
shows you how not to flash a chimney! It looks as if this is
the handy work of the infamous Unhandy-Andy who lurks around town demonstrating
his utter lack of building skills and … (2 comments)
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nashville home inspections: Keyed Entry Doorlocks - Potential Fire Safety Hazard... - 01/03/08 07:36 AM
Several
times a week, I see keyed entry locks on both sides of the deadbolt lock.
Generally, I will see these in older properties or in rough neighborhoods where
the home owner feels that they need … (4 comments)
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nashville home inspections: Dryer Venting - What You Don't Know Can Cost You - 01/03/08 06:11 AM
For
many
years, the material of choice for clothes dryer venting was the common
flexible
plastic vent hose.
Invariably, I run across this material in some homes several times a month. As a
courtesy to the new home buyer, I write this up as a potential fire safety
hazard. There … (4 comments)
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nashville home inspections: January is Radon Awarness Month - 01/02/08 06:13 AM
According to the
EPA and other sources,
Radon
is second only to cigarettes as the leading cause of
lung cancer
in the United States. It has also been
labeled as the leading cause of lung cancer for non-smokers and smokers alike.
It is estimated that about 20,000 US citizens will die … (2 comments)
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nashville home inspections: When was the last time you changed your air filters? - 12/29/07 07:28 AM
… (8 comments)
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nashville home inspections: Protect Your Clients and Yourself - Take Pictures! - 12/29/07 06:16 AM
… (4 comments)
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nashville home inspections: #1 Bathroom Problem Is . . . . - 12/29/07 04:55 AM
… (5 comments)
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nashville home inspections: Dangerous Situation - Locked Electrical Panels - 12/22/07 05:44 AM
Having been a licensed electrician and an electrical engineer in a previous life, I am always on the look-out for unsafe electrical practices. Occasionally, I come across an external panel that is locked. I really wish the homeowner knew how dangerous this situation really is. All electric panels must have free … (6 comments)
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nashville home inspections: My Week as Reviewed in Pictures - 12/22/07 04:53 AM
I love my job! I keep telling myself that every day. I get an opportunity to see how other people live and the dumb thing that go on behind closed doors. I really cannot make this stuff up! Here are some of the more interesting things that I have encountered this … (5 comments)
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nashville home inspections: Water Pressure – Functional Flow – What’s the Difference? - 12/20/07 05:44 AM
It is not uncommon to have real estate agents or my clients follow me through the property that I am inspecting and ask questions about my findings. While inspecting an older property, I noticed that the water volume coming out of the basin faucet reduce to a trickle when I flushed … (6 comments)
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nashville home inspections: New Construction Homes – Get Them Inspected!! - 12/16/07 09:16 AM
Many people purchasing newly constructed homes opt not to have a home inspection. We all know the drill - the property has been inspected by codes, the property super has been watching the subs to ensure quality control, blah, blah, blah. Yeah! Right! In my 7+ years of inspecting commercial and … (4 comments)
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nashville home inspections: Arc-Fault Circuits – A Few Things You Should Know - 12/16/07 06:41 AM
Because kids do the darndest things and most household fires start in bedrooms, arc-fault circuit interrupters (AFCI) breakers have been required on all newly constructed residential properties as of 2002 and all residential properties where the wiring system and panel have been updated. These devices are required for the bedroom areas … (3 comments)
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nashville home inspections: Dangerous Situation Here - 12/15/07 04:43 AM
As part of the inspection process, we are required to inspect all readily accessible electric panels in a property. Several times a week, my inspector or I run into the situation where either unhandy Andy or some lazy electrician has used improper screws to hold the dead-front cover on the service … (3 comments)
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nashville home inspections: The Hidden Danger in Your Home - 12/15/07 04:14 AM
The Hidden Danger in Your Home
If your home was built after 1990 to present date, there may be a safety hazard in your home which has the potential to injure you or your loved ones.
No, it is not Radon or the chemicals stored under your kitchen sink or closet where you … (7 comments)
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nashville home inspections: Realtors – Talk to Your Clients about Electrical Panels - 12/12/07 06:02 AM
About once a week one of my inspectors or I run into an electric panel somewhere in a garage or laundry area that is inaccessible due to personal storage. Often times, permanent shelving being placed over the panel face so that it cannot be removed or the door opened as on the … (1 comments)
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nashville home inspections: I Wonder What They Were Thinking? - 12/11/07 03:54 AM
I was at a property that an addition was part of the rehab project. I could not help but notice the outlet placed on the outside of the guardrail next to the balcony. One would think that common sense would dictate that you would place the outlet on the inside of … (7 comments)
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nashville home inspections: Water Heaters – Facts and Common Violations - 12/07/07 07:05 AM
Water Heaters – Facts and Common Violations As a licensed home inspector for the State of Tennessee and an ASHI certified home inspector, the most common water heater violations I see with water heaters center around the Temperature, Pressure, Relief (TPR) valve. Water heaters are pressure vessels capable of exploding or causing … (1 comments)
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nashville home inspections: I Wonder What They Were Thinking - 12/07/07 05:19 AM
As a licensed home inspector for the State of Tennessee and an ASHI certified home inspector, I am continually in and out of properties almost daily; some new - some old. Generally, it is the older properties that I find really fascinating.
I entered the master bath of an ‘80's style ranch … (5 comments)
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nashville home inspections: Crawl Spaces – The Final Frontier – Vapor Retarders and Mold - 12/07/07 04:28 AM
If you have one, when was the last time that YOU entered, inspected, or had your crawl space professionally inspected?
As a licensed home inspector for the State of Tennessee and an ASHI certified home inspector, I have seen a lot of damage in the under world that could have been … (1 comments)
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nashville home inspections: Chimney Crowns - 12/06/07 05:07 PM
Chimneys are basically very small structures. Just as your house needs a roof to keep water from entering, so does your chimney. Chimney crowns are simply chimney roofs. The crown should slope down from the flue liner at a minimum of 3 inches of fall per foot of run. Flat or improperly … (2 comments)
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nashville home inspections: New Roof Issues - 12/04/07 06:07 AM
A roofing contractor had just installed a new roof on a property that had been rehabbed. Many property owners are not familiar enough with the trades to know when a job has been completed properly. Most take the word of the contractor.
I could not help but notice that the stack vents … (2 comments)
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nashville home inspections: New Uses for Old Extension Cords - 12/04/07 05:49 AM
It never ceases to amaze me when I see the things that Un-handy Andy does with electricity. Improper use of electricity and improper wiring techniques are one of the few things that will kill you or burn your house down. But, nevertheless they keep tinkering. I guess that tinkering is their … (2 comments)
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nashville home inspections: Maintenance Tip - Asphalt Drives - 11/30/07 07:12 AM
Maintenance Tip from
Complete Home Inspections, Inc.
Brentwood, TN
We enjoy trying to make sure that your home stays one of your most valuable assets. The best way we know to help you with that is to pass along some simple maintenance tips that most people don't know that could save you thousands of … (1 comments)
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nashville home inspections: 11 Month Warranty Inspections - 11/29/07 01:07 PM
Property inspections some time around the 11 month is a good idea especially if you did not do the home inspection prior to closing. Better builders will repair defects in material and workmanship during the first year that you own the property.
Depending upon the builder, some properties will have some … (2 comments)
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nashville home inspections: One Year Warranty Inspections - 11/29/07 12:42 PM
Most good real estate professionals suggest that new construction properties get an independent inspection prior to closing or the final walk-through. Most don' citing money is tight, especially if they are first time buyers. Or, there may be other circumstances that prohibit the inspection process.
Most builders of track or spec … (0 comments)
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nashville home inspections: New build properties need to be inspected too! - 11/28/07 06:30 AM
More often than not, when talking to friends in the real estate business, many people that purchase new properties forgo the inspection contingency because they buy into the line or lie that "It has been inspected by the codes department. There is nothing to worry about."
Well ... Kinda-sorta true but keep … (4 comments)
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nashville home inspections: The True Measure of Our Thanksgiving... - 11/21/07 03:29 AM
"Not what we say about our blessings, but how we use them, is the true measure of our thanksgiving."- W.T. Purkiser
I count every person that we do a home inspection for as a blessing - and I try to make sure that every home owner that works with you understands that … (3 comments)
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nashville home inspections: How to avoid lawsuits by doing Re-Inspections - 11/18/07 07:48 PM
As a home inspector I am asked to go back and re-inspect repairs at a house where I had previously done an inspection. More often than not, I will do so, especially if it involves structural or roofing issues.
First of all, most insurance companies that carry the home inspectors E&O try to discourage … (0 comments)
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