Oh, look! One of those nifty towel warmers! - 04/29/11 03:21 PM
 
What's wrong with this picture??
 

ANSWER: Fire Safety Compromise This bathroom towel rack has been installed over an active electrical wall heater creating a potentially serious situation.
Hundreds of lives, thousands of homes, and millions of dollars in damage are incurred annually from residential fires. Many of those fires began through no outward negligence on the homeowner's part, but rather a lack of safety awareness.
The heater in this picture will get quite hot and should never be in close proximity to combustible materials. The manufacturer most likely would agree and has published minimum clearances required. It's possible … (13 comments)

He WANTS the grass to die?! Are you as cheap as my friend Paul? - 04/26/11 08:29 PM
My friend and coworker Paul is a self-proclaimed cheapskate and loves to blog about it. This is his latest post and I thought you'd enjoy it. Are you this cheap? What do you think about Paul's latest rant?
Posted by: U.S. Inspect Blog
 

With all my concentration lately focused on building the deck, I put many of the other items we need out of my mind. Now I just wish they would stay out. But even though I would like to never spend a dime again, there are still many things we need… and the list keeps on growing.The … (7 comments)

Roof Basics for Homeowners: A Free Customizable Handout - 04/26/11 02:29 PM
As promised, here's this week's addition to my print library in the U.S. Inspect Agent Resource Center. Feel free drop in your name and/or logo and use on your blogs and websites! Come back next Monday for the next flyer!
Description: Here is a great checklist for assessing the health of your roof. Be sure to read the safety precautions first. Then, if your personal assessment brings about any concerns, contact a licensed roofing professional to conduct repairs. Assessing your roof annually is a great way to make sure you get the longest life from your roof and address smaller issues … (5 comments)

Don't Let Pets Take a Bite Out Of Your Home Sale! Free Customizable Handout - 04/19/11 10:01 AM
As promised, here is access to this week's free handout! It is the most recent addition to the print library in our Agent Resource Center. Feel free to use on your blogs and websites!
Description: Do you own pets? Do they share your living space? Buyers are more discerning than ever these days when deciding if the home they’ve selected is the right one. So the last thing you want are pet odors or related conditions to deter traffic or a potential sale. This handout details some things to keep in mind to make sure your furry little friends don't get … (8 comments)

Don't Let Pets Take a Bite Out Of Your Home Sale! - 04/19/11 09:56 AM

Do you or your seller's own pets? Do they share the living space? Buyers are more discerning than ever these days when deciding if the home they’ve selected is the right one. So the last thing you want are pet odors or related conditions to deter traffic or a potential sale.Keep cat boxes, bird and rodent cages, and the surrounding areas clean. Keep a towel or blanket under cages. Excess cat litter, bird seed and wood shavings should be vacuumed frequently. Keeping a clean pet living area shows that you care about maintaining your home.Here are some home seller tips … (4 comments)

Electrical Terms for Homeowners and Buyers: Free Customizable Handout - 04/11/11 04:12 PM
I promised that I'd announce all new marketing materials available here on my AR blog. This is my most recent addition to the print library in the U.S. Inspect Agent Resource Center. Feel free to use on your blogs and websites!
Description: Some homeowners are not afraid to tackle any sort of electrical fix or upgrade in their homes. Others would rather not deal with their electrical systems at all. But one thing is certain, no matter how comfortable you are with electricity, all homeowners should have a basic understanding of the electrical terms contained in this handout, not only to … (9 comments)

Cheap-Living! A Wise Miser's Approach to Homeownership - 04/06/11 09:19 AM

I have a new fun blog series out called, Cheap Living--written by my friend and co-blogger, Paul Picard! Enjoy.
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Posted By: U.S. Inspect Blog
I’m cheap. I’m not ashamed. I’m proud of it. I’ll make jokes in light of myself; I don’t care. I never want to spend money on anything, and if you know me, you already know that. Every situation in life I encounter, I devise a plan to figure out how to spend the least amount possible, if I have to spend anything at all. Yep, I’d be perfectly happy if I never had to spend … (6 comments)

My Baby Has Arrived! - 04/04/11 08:57 PM
As many of you who read my blog regularly know, I have been expecting a baby girl (May 19th, 2011); and today, before April 1st so you don't think I'm joking, I'd like to introduce all of you to my new baby. I've actually been absent from my ActiveRain blog as of late, and perhaps some of you started to wonder.
But, oh dear, I have to be honest, this might not be the baby announcement you all were expecting. Yes, it seems I still have seven weeks left in my pregnancy after all--but--while I have been working on that special … (44 comments)

New Termite Prevention Flyer Added to Agent Resource Center - 04/04/11 04:29 PM
Hi all--I promised I'd let you know each time I added a new item to my free resource center (every Monday). This week in the U.S. Inspect Agent Resource Center, I have added a termite prevention tips flyer: http://www.usinspect.com/residential/print/termite-prevention-tips. Remember you can add your name and logo and use as you like--enjoy!
Check out the Termite Blog I wrote to go along with the flyer today.
 

… (1 comments)

A Termite Swarm in my Own Backyard! (Cool pictures) - 04/04/11 04:25 PM
While termite swarms in the home can be unsettling to say the least and are one of the signs that you have an infestation, swarms occur regularly in nature and are really quite fascinating.
I was able to witness one of these events in early May of last year and I grabbed my camera so I could share it with all of you here. The entire process lasted only about 30 minutes. I hope you'll enjoy browsing through the pictures below. As I describe each picture, I'll also explain some of the basics about termite swarms.

So here, by this … (10 comments)

April FOOLS ? - 04/01/11 11:15 AM
Sometimes when an inspector finds something unusual on the job, he may WISH it were a joke, but these pictures are no prank--they're the real thing.
Foolish? We'll let you be the judge. Happy April Fool's Day!
   
a. This is not what is meant by "attic fan."
b. Budget Bidet?
   
c. Sunkin treasure? Not quite. This AC Compressor has been encased in a layer of asphalt.
d. Unfortunately, this vent doesn't have much of a chance of working properly.
   
e. When only the best will do, Pampers.
f. A spiral staircase that's not for the … (18 comments)