rancho cucamonga home inspections: Privacy, Who Needs Privacy? (A Home Inspection Blog) - 08/28/08 03:08 PM
Is privacy really that important? Here in California we have walls to surround our backyards and even half walls in the front yards to separate ourselves. We have caller ID so we can scan our incoming calls and we have *67 so no one knows who we are when we're calling. Well, yesterday … (12 comments)
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rancho cucamonga home inspections: I've Got a Hole in My Roof (A Home Inspection Blog) - 08/27/08 12:49 PM
Most of you who know me know that I like to write catchy titles to get someones attention. Well, this one is not just catchy, it's the down right truth. I actually came across a house with a hole in the roof.
The buyer had no idea, the realtor had … (12 comments)
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rancho cucamonga home inspections: The Missing Link - A Home Inspection Blog - 08/27/08 09:38 AM
I know summer is pretty much over for school kids around here but it's still a good time to talk about pool safety. I will focus on one specific area of pool safety today: barriers. I will also focus one one specific type of barrier: chain link fences. Of course the … (7 comments)
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rancho cucamonga home inspections: Backwards Means Big Mistake - A Home Inspection Blog - 08/27/08 03:59 AM
I saw this a few months ago so I thought I'd share it with everyone.
Okay, I'm not focusing here on the worn roof, the rusted air baffle or the dish cable. Can you see what else is wrong here? A hint: It has something to do with the air baffle.
First … (28 comments)
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rancho cucamonga home inspections: Another announcement... please welcome... - 07/15/08 07:20 PM
I truly have been busy lately with the new baby, a growing business and now a new employee, a home inspector.
Please help me to welcome Jimmy Zazueta as he joins Joseph Lang of Pillar To Post Professional Home Inspection.
Jimmy and myself grew up as cousins. Though we're not blood … (4 comments)
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rancho cucamonga home inspections: It's Been a While - 05/29/08 09:43 PM
I first want to apologize for the long break since my last blog. Well, actually I haven't had much of a break at all. I've been the busiest I've ever been and have little time left over after work and family. So of course my time for blogs also gets limited. … (3 comments)
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rancho cucamonga home inspections: Remodels Should also be Inspected - 05/19/08 02:49 PM
Last month I had an owner call me and wanted me to inspect her house because she might be selling it down the road and because she had a bathroom remodeled and had some concerns. Luckily the worse of her concerns were not an issue, however, it reminded me of a point … (7 comments)
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rancho cucamonga home inspections: My First Home Inspection in the Amazon - 04/14/08 12:59 PM
It sounds amazing, but I did a home inspection in the Amazon. Heres' the picture to prove it. I don't know why they needed electricity in the Amazon? Okay, okay, you got me, I wasn't really in the Amazon, but it sure felt like it when I had to access the main … (16 comments)
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rancho cucamonga home inspections: Automatic Gas Shut Off Valves for Earthquakes - 04/11/08 05:53 PM
I still don't see very many of them but there is a relatively new safety item called an automatic gas shut off valve. It is a valve that goes on your gas line, near the meter, that will automatically shut off in case of an earthquake (obviously a California issue). Here's what … (10 comments)
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rancho cucamonga home inspections: "Green" with envy - 04/10/08 06:38 PM
Sometimes during a home inspection you get to see some very interesting things. I saw this from the roof. Nothing looked too unusual to me. It was overcast that morning.
I then remembered that there was a pool but for some reason my calling center didn't have the extra fee for a … (10 comments)
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rancho cucamonga home inspections: You Should See the View From Up Here - 04/02/08 01:55 PM
The other day I was looking at my camera and remembered I had a panoramic view option. So I was on a roof during an inspection and it had a beautiful view. So I thought, "Lets try that panoramic view option." It's pretty neat, you take up to 4 pictures and … (17 comments)
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rancho cucamonga home inspections: Does the Right Hand Know What the Left Hand is Doing? - 04/02/08 11:17 AM
I came across this the other day during a home inspection. Air Conditioning condensers have a data plate which has various information on it. One part being the maximum and minimum breaker or fuse size allowed. This particular data plate indicated the minimum size was 30-amps and the maximum size was … (11 comments)
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rancho cucamonga home inspections: Chim Chim-e-ney Chim Chim-e-ney Chim Chim Cha- OUCH! - 04/01/08 02:32 PM
I couldn't help but think of Mary Poppins and good old Dick Van Dyke when writing a post about chimney vents. Unfortunately this is not a funny situation. The silver cylinder is the vent for the chimney.
Of course fires burn in a fireplace and the combustion gases, heat and smoke … (13 comments)
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rancho cucamonga home inspections: Do You Have a Tired Evaporative Cooler? - 04/01/08 01:06 PM
Sometimes during a home inspection I see things that just make me laugh. I came across this and just had to share it with everyone. I guess the evaporative cooler was overworked and underpaid and just had to sit down and take a rest. We all need that every once in a while, right?
… (14 comments)
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rancho cucamonga home inspections: Would you like some Marshmallows with that Furnace? - 03/28/08 08:06 PM
Well I encountered another one just last week. The infamous recalled horizontal attic furnace (isolated to California from what I've read). Here's the issue (in a nutshell):
The Torrance Fire Department noticed they were going to fires that seemed to start in attics. They then realized that certain furnaces were located in the … (12 comments)
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rancho cucamonga home inspections: Are You Retaining Water? How About Your Retaining Wall? - 03/28/08 07:26 PM
That's a trick question of course (that is the second question). Retaining walls naturally retain water because the soil soaks it up. But have you really ever thought about how heavy water is? Think about how heavy a gallon of milk is (okay, I admit it, I don't know the actual … (5 comments)
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rancho cucamonga home inspections: A Slippery Slope... - 03/25/08 06:51 PM
I saw this at a home inspection yesterday.
So what's he problem? Look closely...
The problem is that the window well is sloping towards the window, and not away. So what's that mean? That means that when it rains the water will run towards the window and possibly enter the house. Ouch! The … (7 comments)
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rancho cucamonga home inspections: Just TRUSS Me - 03/25/08 09:29 AM
As a home inspector you never take anything for granted. I recently inspected a 3,200 sq. ft. house built in 2004. It was very nice looking with a lot of upgrades. On the surface I'm sure many would think there could hardly be anything wrong with it.
There was an attic in … (10 comments)
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rancho cucamonga home inspections: A Contractor Hiring a Home Inspector? - 03/24/08 07:10 PM
Why would a licensed contractor hire a home inspector? I thought being a contractor automatically qualified you to be a home inspector?
Well, last week I was hired by a licensed contractor for a home inspection. You see he specializes in paving roads and parking lots. So he hired me to inspect his home. … (13 comments)
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rancho cucamonga home inspections: Twas the Day of the Home Inspection - 03/18/08 07:51 PM
Twas the day of the home inspection
and all through the house
not a creature was stirring
not even a mouse (he already left his mess in the insulation in the attic).
The buyer was nestled all snug in their thoughts
thinking and planning where to put all the furniture that will be bought.
The home inspector moved through the … (15 comments)
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rancho cucamonga home inspections: Up the Hatch - 03/18/08 02:35 PM
I've heard that some home inspectors don't go in attics or crawlspaces and don't walk on roofs. Now don't get me wrong, there may be a safety issue which prevents this, that's fine, but as my normal routine, I enter attics, crawlspaces and walk on roofs. Here's an example of why … (9 comments)
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rancho cucamonga home inspections: What's Taking So Long? - 03/11/08 11:18 AM
I've heard this before, luckily not too often. But every once in a while you get someone who used $$One-Fifty-One$$ Buck Chuck (as I call them) for their last home inspection and they wonder how an inspection can take so long. I'll use an example from yesterdays home inspection to shed … (20 comments)
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rancho cucamonga home inspections: Smoooookin' (or at least it could be soon) - 03/10/08 01:56 PM
Now you have to say the title of this post like Jim Carrey did in the movie "The Mask." Smooookin'
That's they only way to get the true effect.
Sometimes items that need correction are very simple, yet the danger if they aren't are very serious. I saw this the other day while … (4 comments)
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rancho cucamonga home inspections: Do You Still Have That Spark? - 03/09/08 01:06 PM
Well hopefully your chimney doesn't. I see this all the time.
It's a chimney without a rain cap or spark arrestor. Here's what one looks like.
Without this an ember from the fireplace can go up the chimney and land on the roof or nearby vegetation and cause a fire. Also, rain can enter … (8 comments)
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rancho cucamonga home inspections: Give 'em a Hand - 03/09/08 06:42 AM
Many people seem to take hand rails for granted. Sure, when you're young you go up the stairs two-at-a-time and hardly every touch the hand rail. But as we mature our bodies aren't what they used to be.
So I think the elderly and disabled are many times forgotten when it comes to hand … (14 comments)
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rancho cucamonga home inspections: Heating and Cooling Your Attic? - 03/07/08 04:37 PM
Not many of us want the furnace to heat our attics or the A/C to cool our attics. Why spend the money on utilities to condition a space that you won't be in?
I found this yesterday during a home inspection. I was first suspicious of the air register because the readings … (13 comments)
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rancho cucamonga home inspections: X-Ray Vision - 03/06/08 04:45 PM
I found this at an inspection today.
Even though "curiosity killed the cat," I still decided to lift the piece of cardboard and take a look. There was mineral build up and a leak at the copper water supply pipe under the sink. So of course that went in my report.
But it got … (16 comments)
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rancho cucamonga home inspections: Get a Whiff of That! - 03/03/08 06:44 PM
I came across this the other day at an inspection:
The two pipes are called flues, one was for the water heater and one was for the furnace. These flues are where the combustion gases terminate to the exterior. However the issue is the openable windows. The flue and window to the … (12 comments)
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rancho cucamonga home inspections: Debunking The Myths of the Pre-Listing Home Inspection - 03/02/08 10:34 AM
Recently there was an excellent featured post about pre-listing home inspections and why they're not more popular. Please read At what point do you throw in the towel? by David Lelak's wife.
Some of the reasons sellers don't want to get a pre-listing home inspection were given below. I thought it would be easier … (12 comments)
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rancho cucamonga home inspections: The Door to No Where - 02/29/08 07:43 PM
I came across this today...The bottom of the picture is a mirrored closet door and the door to the bedroom. The door on top?I think it's the perfect discipline for kids. Put them in the room up there and just see them try to get out... it's a long way down, … (25 comments)
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rancho cucamonga home inspections: There's Never Problems with New Construction Homes... Right? - 02/26/08 10:55 AM
I've posted about this subject before but I'll keep plugging away until people get it. I just inspected a new construction home this weekend, this one was the model home, the cream of the crop, right? Why would someone waste their money and have it inspected? Here's why:
The tiles meeting the … (14 comments)
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rancho cucamonga home inspections: Water Heater Earthquake Bracing - 02/22/08 11:48 PM
Almost everyone in California is familiar with earthquake bracing for their water heater. However there are two situations I come across frequently where they braces have been installed incorrectly or one brace is missing.
First, if a blanket is used for the water heater then the blanket must be installed overthe braces. … (8 comments)
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rancho cucamonga home inspections: Agents and Utilities - What's Up? - 02/21/08 04:15 PM
Okay, we all know there's a lot of short sales, foreclosures, REO's, etc. So therefore the utilities many times end up being turned off since no one is paying the bill. The gas company will put a lock on the meter like the one below (circled below), and other utility companies do … (10 comments)
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rancho cucamonga home inspections: Home Improvements - 02/21/08 11:24 AM
I recently came upon this home improvement during a home inspection. By just looking at it, it looks quite nice and has provided a nice space in the backyard where there used to be a slope. However...
There are quite a few problems with this new patio.
1. The patio is over 30-inches … (7 comments)
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rancho cucamonga home inspections: The Lion, The Witch and The Cabinet... Well Maybe Just the Cabinet - 02/20/08 07:39 PM
As Home Inspectors there are quite a lot of items we look at during a home inspection. And though some of the items we normally look at are fine in 95% of the homes, you still have to check. For instance, cabinetry. Most of the homes in my area are pretty … (13 comments)
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rancho cucamonga home inspections: A Home Inspector Never Makes Assumptions - 02/19/08 12:59 PM
... or at least they shouldn't. Just last week I inspected a 4,200 sq. ft. house with a pool and spa and a 500 sq. ft. pool house going for $1.2 million. Wow, with such a nice and expensive house there must not have been any problems... right?
Wrong. The main panel … (9 comments)
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rancho cucamonga home inspections: Concrete Tile Roofing Errors - Part 5 - 02/19/08 09:36 AM
This is Part 5 of the common errors I see for concrete roof tiles. Part 1 was about metal risers blocking the valley, Part 2 was about valley flashings that should extend past the roof edge, Part 3 was about weather blocking and Part 4 was about roof to wall flashing kick outs.
The roof is … (4 comments)
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rancho cucamonga home inspections: Concrete Tile Roofing Errors - Part 4 - 02/13/08 06:33 PM
This is Part 4 of the common errors I see for concrete roof tiles. Part 1 was about metal risers blocking the valley and Part 2 was about valley flashings that should extend past the roof edge and Part 3 was about weather blocking.
The roof is obviously an important part of the house, … (2 comments)
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rancho cucamonga home inspections: Concrete Tile Roofing Errors - Part 3 - 02/12/08 09:14 AM
This is Part 3 of the common errors I see for concrete roof tiles. Part 1 was about metal risers blocking the valley and part 2was about valley flashings that should extend past the roof edge.
The roof is obviously an important part of the house, yet so often concrete roof tiles are … (4 comments)
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rancho cucamonga home inspections: My House Almost Went Up In Flames Today! - 02/11/08 07:06 PM
Today I did not have an inspection scheduled in the morning so I thought I'd help out with the dishes. I loaded up the dishwasher and the started on the hand washed items. After about 10-15 minutes I smelled something weird. I stopped and looked around and saw something by the … (65 comments)
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rancho cucamonga home inspections: Concrete Tile Roofing Errors - Part 2 - 02/10/08 10:31 PM
This is Part 2 of the common errors I see for concrete roof tiles. Part 1 was about metal risers blocking the valley.
The roof is obviously an important part of the house, yet so often concrete roof tiles are installed incorrectly. In 2002, all of the concrete tile manufacturers got … (2 comments)
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rancho cucamonga home inspections: Concrete Tile Roofing Errors - Part 1 - 02/09/08 08:15 AM
I'm going to make a series out of common errors I see for concrete roof tiles. The roof is obviously an important part of the house, yet so often concrete roof tiles are installed incorrectly. In 2002, all of the concrete tile manufacturers got together and formed the Tile Roofing Institute, … (10 comments)
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rancho cucamonga home inspections: It's Already Been Inspected, It'll Be Easy For You - 01/30/08 10:53 PM
That's what I was told by the listing agent when I began my inspection. She stated the house had fallen out of escrow. She also told me the only item pointed out was the water heater platform. I smiled and said, "That's great, it makes my job easier," but what I really … (6 comments)
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rancho cucamonga home inspections: The Roof, The Roof, The Roof is on Fire... or at Least the Garage is. - 01/21/08 06:35 PM
I came across this last week during a home inspection. It's pretty obvious there was a fire in the Garage at some point. I guess the tenant has been there for 17-years and stated there's never been a fire. I'd have to disagree. I recommended the buyers contact the local or county … (14 comments)
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rancho cucamonga home inspections: The Eye of the Tiger... (A Home Inspection Blog) - 01/21/08 01:06 PM
The eye of the tiger is nothing compared to the eye of the garage door opener. What?
I'm talking about the laser sensor eye for the garage door opener. Look at the picture below, it's the black box a few inches off the ground.
The laser sensor eye puts an … (6 comments)
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rancho cucamonga home inspections: Aren't Guard Rails Overrated? - 01/21/08 12:52 PM
The people in this home obviously thought so. Look at the picture, I cam across it a few days ago during a home inspection.
There should be a guard rail at the right hand side of the bottom of the stairs from the wall to the tile along the line where the stairs … (3 comments)
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rancho cucamonga home inspections: Deadbolts: Can They Be Unsafe? - 01/17/08 11:36 AM
I think everyone knows that deadbolts are a great safety item. However, can a deadbolt ever be a safety hazard? YES.
Now I've got you hooked and you just have to read more... perfect.
Some people use double-keyed deadbolts in a house. That means that you have to have a key to open … (14 comments)
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rancho cucamonga home inspections: Landlords: You're Liable for Your Tenants Safety - 01/12/08 09:15 AM
I inspect homes for investors quite often. Many of these homes, duplexes, etc. will be used as rentals. I always ask if this is the case as landlords are liable for the safety of their tenants. This makes home inspections for rental properties important not only for the condition of the property … (22 comments)
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rancho cucamonga home inspections: Water Shut Off Locations - 01/11/08 05:27 PM
It is essential you know the location of the water shut off valve. What if a pipe breaks and water is gushing out in the house? You need to know how to shut off the water.
Here in Southern California, there is a house main water shut off and a city shut … (15 comments)
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rancho cucamonga home inspections: Why Would Anyone Have a New Construction Home Inspected? - 01/11/08 04:37 PM
That's a waste of money, right? It was just built, what could possibly be wrong?
The answer, anything and everything could possibly be wrong, not to say that it necessarily will, of course. But I inspect quite a few new construction homes and I always find items that need correction, repair or … (12 comments)
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rancho cucamonga home inspections: Upgraded Houses Don't Need to be Inspected... Right? - 01/06/08 10:03 AM
I inspected a house built in 1948 the other day which had some upgraded systems. Unfortunately it was a shoddy job.
Though they had just upgraded the electrical system, they didn't bother to do anything about the corrosion at the right service entrance cable.
They upgraded the electrical system but for some reason decided to … (7 comments)
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rancho cucamonga home inspections: Proper Wire Sizes in Electrical Panels - 01/05/08 09:48 AM
While inspecting houses I often find problems in the main electrical service panel. The most common for me is that the breaker/fuse for the A/C has undersized wires or that the breaker amperage is too large. But I also see on other breakers/fuses where the wire sizing for some breakers is … (8 comments)
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rancho cucamonga home inspections: Do You Have a Temper? - 01/03/08 10:56 AM
Well, what about tempered glass? And what is it anyway? Most people are familiar with safety glass in the front windshield of their car. If the windshield is hit it usually just cracks into a spiderweb looking design, or worse case scenario it shatters, but the shards are not sharp enough … (13 comments)
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rancho cucamonga home inspections: Safety Gates for Children - 01/03/08 08:48 AM
...and three kids later I finally decided to install permanent gates for my children. I have a two-story house and we've had a temporary type gate at the bottom of the stairs for years. It's been quite cumbersome as it was difficult to operate and would sometimes come out of place.
So … (11 comments)
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rancho cucamonga home inspections: Is Your Service Too Small? - 01/03/08 08:34 AM
I recently inspected two houses with a 60-amp main electrical service. What does that mean? Electrical panels are rated by amps. The more amps you have, the more electrical capacity the house can handle.
The problem is that the demand of electrical services has increased dramatically since the 1940's. The Kitchen … (10 comments)
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rancho cucamonga home inspections: Who Gets the Benefit of the Doubt? Computers or Clients - 12/19/07 01:19 AM
Okay here's the story. I have been a customer of a certain insurance company for 7-years for both auto and home insurance. I have never filed a claim in that time. The insurance company has only made a profit from me.
Well... I get a letter in the mail from the DMV … (21 comments)
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rancho cucamonga home inspections: Inspectors and Stagers and Title Reps, Oh My! - 12/13/07 11:01 AM
I've seen a lot of these types of posts, so I'll throw my 2 cents in, but hopefully it will be good and amount to a couple of dollars :-)What can a seller do to make their listing stand out? First you should look at what every transaction needs. I'll stick … (13 comments)
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rancho cucamonga home inspections: "Green" Eco-Friendly Building - 12/12/07 06:28 PM
Recently a contest was put out here on AR asking us to list the Top 5 "green" eco-friendly items if money were no object, http://activerain.com/blogsview/300156/1-Points-Brad-Pitt
I thought this was a great idea and decided to write a blog on it. I have already somewhat thought about it for when I build … (24 comments)
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rancho cucamonga home inspections: Have You Come in Contact with the Flu or the Flue? - 12/10/07 10:01 AM
A flue is a pipe that is usually attached to the top of a furnace or water heater. Fire is needed to heat up the water heater, furnace, etc. When there is a fire, combustion takes place. Then you have combustion gases that are created. These gases are harmful to breathe, … (6 comments)
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rancho cucamonga home inspections: Blow It Out Your... - 12/06/07 06:22 PM
Did you really think I was going to post something inappropriate?
I came across this picture and thought I'd share it with you. Exhaust fans in bathrooms, kitchens and laundry rooms need to terminate somewhere, right? They are attached to a duct and that duct should terminate to the exterior so that the … (13 comments)
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rancho cucamonga home inspections: What Do Accordions and Drains Have in Common... - 12/06/07 05:51 PM
Well, they should have nothing in common. The interior of drains should be smooth to allow liquids and debris to drain properly. Someone had the "great" idea of developing the "accordion-style drain," as I call them. They are for the amateur plumber or homeowner who just can't get two drain pipes to … (12 comments)
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rancho cucamonga home inspections: You're all wet! - 11/28/07 01:39 PM
Look at the picture below. See any problems? It has a self-closing exterior cover, so it's okay, right?
The problem is that the permanently installed timer never allows the cover to close. Therefore, when it rains water can intrude and get into the electrical connection... not a good thing.
What's needed when something … (16 comments)
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rancho cucamonga home inspections: Get a grip on it! - 11/26/07 02:35 PM
No, this post is not about being stressed out or any other psychological problem. It's about getting a grip... literally.
While reviewing some inspection pictures recently, I cam across one that I thought could be educational.
One aspect of safety that most probably never think about are stairs. Of course everyone knows you can … (12 comments)
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rancho cucamonga home inspections: How a doggy door can be dangerous - Seriously! - 11/21/07 04:28 PM
The title isn't just catchy to get your attention, though of course I hope it does. But doggy doors (no offense to cats or any other animal) should NOT be installed in the door that goes from the Garage to the House. Here's the reason:
A wall that has living space on … (14 comments)
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rancho cucamonga home inspections: I can't see through walls... and I can't see though clutter either! - 11/16/07 06:50 PM
I had to post these pictures here because they really are unbelievable unless you see them. I have included some of these pictures in other blogs, but I have never put them all together. The pictures below are all from one house... and it was being lived in. This really shows … (13 comments)
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rancho cucamonga home inspections: Why should I replace my old pool drain cover? - 11/16/07 06:32 PM
A common item I call out on older pools is the old drain covers. People don't realize just how strong the suction can be at a pool drain. It is enough that if someone touches it they may not be able to move their hand, or if someone with long hair … (9 comments)
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rancho cucamonga home inspections: The worse closet I've ever seen! - 11/09/07 06:37 PM
I was browsing through some old pictures and came across BY FAR the worse closet I've seen. So I had to share it. The water heater didn't look so good either. And there was also a pipe leaking under the house. Oh yeah, and did I mention the roof? This was … (44 comments)
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rancho cucamonga home inspections: Are you feeling tipsy? How about your oven or dishwasher? - 11/09/07 05:09 PM
Yes, an oven or dishwasher can greatly injure a child if not properly secured. Sometimes when I explain things in a home inspection I get this look of disbelief from a listing agent as if I'm just making things up to "fill" the report... well I'm not.
With the doors open, a dishwasher or oven … (13 comments)
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rancho cucamonga home inspections: Does it REALLY matter if it wasn't required when the house was built? - 11/06/07 01:14 AM
I'm sure this is a hot topic with real estate agents, but guess what, it's a hot topic with home inspectors too. Often I will go over a report and point out safety items to the buyer. I do explain that they were not required when the house was built... but … (59 comments)
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rancho cucamonga home inspections: You finally got them evicted... now what? - 11/05/07 05:30 PM
I once did a home inspection right after a tenant was evicted. There was a lot of damage and a big mess left behind. I hope investors or anyone who has rental property has considered a home inspection after a tenant has been evicted to document any damage that has occurred. … (14 comments)
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rancho cucamonga home inspections: Don't forget about a tune-up! - 10/21/07 09:46 AM
I think almost everyone knows to get the oil changed in their cars regularly and tune-ups annually, or so. But that's not what I'm talking about.
What about your heating and cooling systems? What kind of maintenance do they need? The easiest and one that every homeowner can do is changing the … (4 comments)
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