Be sure to get your water heater inspected and pressure relief valve looked at.

This water heater exploded.

Also... see this video

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rGWmONHipVo&feature=related

A Consumer's Guide To Infrared Thermography

Watch This TV Report

Infrared Thermal Imaging 
Infrared imaging provides important information relating to otherwise inaccessible areas of a residential building. Infrared detects extremely small but crucial differences in temperature from one area of a house to another. These temperature variations show up on the camera’s view screen as “cold” or “hot” spots, which reveal hidden problems that often cannot be detected in the course of a traditional visual inspection.

These problems may include:

• Faulty wiring, breakers and fuses
• Hidden moisture intrusion
• The moisture sources of mold
• Pipe and duct work leaks
• Roof and ceiling leaks
• Heat/energy loss
• Structural concerns
• Missing insulation
• Ventilation problems
• Moisture associated with termite nests
• Rats, mice and other pests

Why Perform Infrared Home Inspections?
Combined with traditional home inspection techniques, the infrared inspection method reveals substantially more of the house than can be perceived by the naked eye and conventional inspection tools. Many things can't be be seen with only a flashlight.

Realtors Pushing Infrared & Energy Inspection

Realtors Pushing For Infrared & Energy Inspection - Watch Video Now

If you have tried getting your listing inspections going and are frustrated by REALTOR's being slow to respond, please come hear Matthew Thrift give you the facts and figures on how he is growing his real estate business with pre-inspections.His listings are only staying on the market an average of 28 days!

This workshop is free to all InterNACHI inspectors and lunch will be provided.

Please RSVP by Tuesday, April 8th by calling Stuart Tirkot or Marie Pritchett- toll free 877-577-4742

Friday, April 11 - Greenville, SC Workshop
11:30 a.m.
Advantage Inspection Corporate Headquarters
728 North Pleasantburg Dr.
Greenville, SC 20607
901-365-2575

The following is an excerpt from a letter we received from Matthew shortly after he started doing listing inspections.

19 Birkhall Circle - Received a ratified / accepted contract 20 days after listing! This is incredible.

I looked for anything that I could find that would set me apart from the other 2000 plus REALTORS in the Greenville market area. I am happy to say that it did not take me long to find exactly what I was looking for. With every listing I take I automatically order an Advantage Home Inspection and a Common Cents Pest Control Wood Infestation / Termite Inspection. These inspections are free to my clients and it has proven to be one of the best listing tools I have seen to sell a house.

For example: I listed a house on December 28, 2007 and between the 28th of December and the 22nd of January, I had 11 Showings and no offers. On Tuesday, January 22nd, I had the house inspected by Advantage Inspection and Common Cents Pest Control, and I asked the sellers if they would purchase an Advantage Home Warranty for a buyer, which of course they agreed. I am happy to say that between Wednesday, January 23rd and Sunday, January 27th I had eight more showings and I received an offer TWO days after inspection and had it accepted FOUR days after inspections.

And yes there is more:

On January 18, 2008 I listed a home in Bonnie Brae Subdivision where the average days on market are currently 83 days. On Tuesday, January 29th, I had the house inspected by Advantage Home Inspection and Common Cents Pest Control, and I asked the sellers if they would purchase an Advantage Home Warranty for a buyer, which of course they agreed. I am happy to report that on February 7th, 2008 (19 Days after listing and 9 days after inspections, I was able to inform my sellers that their home is under ratified contract.

Doing Real Estate a different way than everyone else has proven to be a key strategy. In both examples above, I asked the buyer's agent why their buyers chose my listing over others and their answers were inevitably the same...."Because everything was already done." One agent even stated to me, "You took the hassle and frustration out of the transaction!"

Pre-Inspections JUST MAKE SENSE!For changing my business and the way I do Real Estate for me to better service my clients!

Sincerely,
Matthew Thrift / Keller Williams


For those that want immediate, detailed information - please download our free interactive software that outlines our listing inspection platform, our Lowe's vendor partnership and our "no-denied claims" warranty.

Just click:http://info.advantageinspection.com:8088
Username = AdvantageInfo
Password = Info

Questions about downloading process - call Philip Lee toll free at 877-577-4742.

Advantage Inspection & Advantage Home Warranty are registered trademarks. Lowe's and the gable design are registered trademarks of LF, LLC.

  Click For Pre Listing Guide

John B McKenna is a Certified Master Inspector serving the East Texas area. John has been licensed by the Texas Real Estate Commission (TREC) and approved by TREC as an inspector trainer. He has more than 25 years experience in the construction industry and is certified by the National Association of Certified Home Inspectors (NACHI). He continues to update his yearly education and testing requirements. Visit his company website at www.texas-inspection.com, or call his office at 1-888-818-4838 (Toll Free) for more information. 
 
Complete Home Inspection Service For Conroe, Lufkin, Bryan, Crockett, College Station, Livingston, Palestine, Nacogdoches, Athens, Jacksonville, Huntsville, Lake Palestine, Lake Conroe, Lake Livingston, Corsicana,  Tyler, Texas.

See:  Infrared-Certified.com

INFRARED TRAINING - $500 

NEXT TELECONFERENCE COURSE

Next teleconference class - March 29-30 (toll free for USA & Canada). See calendar for more classes.

NEXT ON-SITE COURSE

Dates for the Texas, Tennessee and Colorado class will be announced shortly.  See calendar for more classes.

Infrared Certified Training Course - Two Days - 16 Hours

TITLE:  "Thermal Imaging And Building Science"

This is an infrared training course intended to familiarize home inspectors with this new this new, non-destructive testing technology and its applications for building and home inspections.

  1. What is thermal imaging?
  2. The purpose of Thermal Imaging in Home Inspections.
        1. Better Inspections
        2. Decreased Liability
        3. Additional Income form Ancillary Services
  3. The Physics of Light
        1. Electromagnetic Spectrum
        2. Frequency
        3. Color
        4. Heat
  4. The Physics of Thermal Imaging
        1. Delta T
        2. Emissivity, Reflectivity, Transparency
        3. Thermal Mass
  5. Different Types of Image Display
        1. Black & White, Rainbow, Iron
        2. Temperature Scales.
        3. Adjusting temperature scales for a better image.
  6. Applications for Home Inspection
        1. Water Infiltration
        2. Excessive Moisture in Materials
        3. Electrical Inspection Applications
        4. HVAC applications
        5. Pipe Location
        6. Pest Infestation
        7. Energy Audit
  7. Inspection Techniques
        1. Exterior scanning.
        2. Interior scanning.
        3. Electrical scanning.
  8. Report Writing, Marketing, Liability.
  9. Building Science, Structure, Systems, And Defects.

Thermal imaging training will include testing and field assignments.  All students will have personal interaction with the instructor.

No IR camera is required to take this thermal imaging training course. 

 
Infrared Training

John McKenna

AMERICAN HOME INSPECTION 

WATCH REPORT

Our State Of The Art Infrared Technology
Can Detect Hidden Problems In Your Home,
Through Thermal Images, Such as Electrical
Hot Spots, Moisture, Energy Loss, Plumbing
Leaks, Heat/AC System, & Many Other Defects
Not Visible To The Eyes. Plus We Bring 25
Years Of Construction Experience To Examine
The Entire House From the Foundation, Roof,
Insulation, Walls, Ceilings, Windows, Doors,
Electrical, Appliances, Plumbing, Drainage,
Heat/AC, Attic, Fire & Safety Issues, etc...
Plus We Inspect Water Wells, Septic, Pools,
Sprinklers, Boat Houses, Barns And More...

Call Toll Free 7 Days/Wk - 8am to 10pm

Email: info@texas-inspection.com

Department of Pediatrics, Hennepin County Medical Center, Minneapolis, MN 55415, USA.

OBJECTIVES: Despite significant advances in automatic garage door opener design, automatic garage door openers continue to severely injure or kill children. In this investigation, we sought to determine the frequency and circumstances of accidents that have caused severe injury or death to children. We also tried to develop a means by which homeowners can evaluate their door openers. METHODS: We present the histories of three children severely injured or killed by automatic garage door openers. We reviewed national data of similar accidents primarily published by the US Product Safety Commission and Underwriters Laboratories. Also, we evaluated 50 automatic door openers for safety of operation. The reversing mechanisms of door openers were tested using a cardiopulmonary resuscitation mannequin, a roll of paper towels, and a block of wood. RESULTS: In the United States, at least 85 children have had permanent brain injury or have died since 1974 as a result of accidents involving automatic door openers. A review of circumstances of the accidents illustrates that accidents are caused both by use of the openers by children and by faults in design. Most accidents have occurred when children have found access to the activation devices and have been entrapped under closing doors that failed to reverse. However, in one case, an adult activated the opener and left the premises before the door completely closed. Our evaluation of 50 garage door openers showed that although 88% percent reversed when encountering a block of wood, 40% failed to reverse when coming down on a supine, child-sized cardiopulmonary resuscitation mannequin. CONCLUSIONS: Automatic garage door openers pose a serious risk of severe injury or death to children. It is probable that many doors would not reverse if they came down on a young child. Therefore, we have devised a way for homeowners to test their door openers that closely mimics our evaluations using the mannequin by using a large roll of paper towels. If the door fails to reverse using this test, we suggest that homeowners disconnect their openers and operate the doors manually until the openers are serviced or replace their automatic openers with one that meets the latest Underwriters Laboratory standards. We also have other recommendations regarding the safe operation of the doors, including improving the safety standards for openers in apartment complexes. Compliance with these recommendations should reduce the number of injuries to children caused by garage door openers.

PMID: 8885959 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?Db=pubmed&Cmd=ShowDetailView&TermToSearch=8885959&ordinalpos=18&itool=EntrezSystem2.PEntrez.Pubmed.Pubmed_ResultsPanel.Pubmed_RVDocSum

John B McKenna is a Certified Master Inspector serving the East Texas area. John has been licensed by the Texas Real Estate Commission (TREC) and approved by TREC as an inspector trainer. He has more than 25 years experience in the construction industry and is certified by the National Association of Certified Home Inspectors (NACHI). He continues to update his yearly education and testing requirements. Visit his company website at www.texas-inspection.com, or call his office at 1-888-818-4838 (Toll Free) for more information. 
 
Complete Home Inspection Service For Conroe, Lufkin, Bryan, Crockett, College Station, Livingston, Palestine, Nacogdoches, Athens, Jacksonville, Huntsville, Lake Palestine, Lake Conroe, Lake Livingston, Corsicana,  Tyler, Texas.

1. Standards of Practice: Good home inspectors will give homebuyers the standards they follow, either from the state or from a professional home inspection organization. They will then go over what will be included in the inspection. When the home inspection is over, the report should include a description of:

• The property’s classification (age, size, location, condition)
• What inspection methods were used (probing, visual, measurement and research)
• Problem areas/deficiencies (the evidence doesn’t need to be conclusive)
• The possible consequences of these problem areas
• Unsafe areas that will require a third-party inspection

1. Limits: There are also a number of things a certified home inspector isn’t required to do. Those include: determining the market value of the property, offering any kind of warranties or guarantees, entering the under-floor crawl spaces, or inspecting detached structures other than garages or carports. These are just a few examples; clients should come prepared with their own questions.
   
2. Inspection Agreement: This is what home inspectors think of as their “contract” with homebuyers. After going through the standards of practice, the homebuyer’s expectations, the home inspector’s restrictions, and any other items unique to the situation, homebuyer’s must sign this agreement before the home inspection begins. The signed agreement should generally include:

• Name of the certified home inspector
• The property’s address
• Date of the inspection
• Date when repair work will be finished
• Cost of the inspection and the method of payment
• Information on dispute resolution resources
  

John McKenna

AMERICAN HOME INSPECTION

WANT HELP SELLING YOUR HOUSE?
Keep Reading

#1 - Look At The Process From Another Point Of View 

 RECENT NEWS REPORT
Los Angeles Times: Pre Listing Inspections

#2 - Cover All Your Bases And Sell For More


Download - "Sell Your Home For More"

#3 - Why Do People Buy Pre Certified Vehicles?

Why Not Pre Certified Homes?


Pre Inspected And Ready
MoveInCertified.com

 "The Inspection Report Can Increase The Value,

Not The Problems." (a wise seller) 

MoveInCertified homes have been pre-inspected

by NACHI certified inspectors and the sellers

confirm that there are no major systems in

need of immediate repair or replacement

and no known safety hazards.

John B McKenna is a Certified Master Inspector serving the East Texas area. John has been licensed by the Texas Real Estate Commission (TREC) and approved by TREC as an inspector trainer. He has more than 25 years experience in the construction industry and is certified by the National Association of Certified Home Inspectors (NACHI). He continues to update his yearly education and testing requirements. Visit his company website at www.texas-inspection.com, or call his office at 1-888-818-4838 (Toll Free) for more information. 
 
Complete Home Inspection Service For Conroe, Lufkin, Bryan, Crockett, College Station, Livingston, Palestine, Nacogdoches, Athens, Jacksonville, Huntsville, Lake Palestine, Lake Conroe, Lake Livingston, Corsicana.