I used to expend great effort to be in the top slot on google and yahoo for my business - home inspection. Blogging was helpful with this, and I even tried google ad-words for this presence. I results were disappointing to say the least.

For real estate agents this is different, and for some it is essential to be at the top of the page. What ever works for you is great.

For my business, nothing compares to referral business from the agents and offices I deal with. I have found some wonderful people since I started my business. Most of them do the sort of required hand-out of 3 referrals, and let the client choose, and I get a lot of business this way.

Some inspectors feel this is unethical, and they do not want to feel they are dependant on the real estate agents, especially since this relationship can be spoiled when a deal 'goes south'. Others that have had bad experiences with agents also feel this way. Nothing is ever perfect, and some referrers do jump ship once in a while. Others would never consider any other inspector, and this feels good.

If you are properly insured, and ethical, and honest, there is no reason to not do business in this manner. I would NEVER hide a defect or lie to a client if asked to by ANYONE. My business means more to me than almost anything, and I will not compromise it.

I have a pretty decent website which I update myself, and I do receive some business through it, but nothing can compare to quality relationship building the old fashioned way - meeting people face to face. It takes a lot of time and effort, not to mention gasoline, but it WORKS! -Ray

Now is the time to have your heating equipment checked and cleaned. If you have a contract with a heating oil company, they will usually clean it free of charge if you get automatic delivery of heating oil. You should also ask to have an efficiency test done to make sure all the oil is being burned - if not you can have a puffback. A puffback can spread soot throughout the entire house. Obviously, gas fire heating equipment does not have the same problems (it has its own), but in some areas, especially here on Long Island, where Meticulous Home Inspection is located, many people do not have gas, and oil heat is still quite prevalent.

House fires occur in all neighborhoods, from rich to poor, but some of the statistics are really an eye opener. Heating equipment fires are the second leading cause of fires in peoples homes, but fires from cooking are, by far, the leading cause.

Fires confined to boilers, chimneys, and chimney flues account for more than 80% of building heating fires in homes.

More than 25% of residential building heating fires result from improper or poor maintenance of heating equipment. Not having the equipment regularly serviced and cleaned is the cause of this.

My local home inspectors association MAHI (the Metropolitan Association of Home Inspectors) has monthly meetings, and we have experts in the field speak about their specific expertice. This information above was gotten from this meeting last year.

If you have not had your oil heat system serviced, you now have good reason if you did not before.

Learn not to burn! - Ray

Yet another house renovation by a flipper, and the items that should have been addressed were not. Some flippers can be so short-sighted. The serious issues that will turn off any buyer were not addressed.

This house was cosmetically renovated with beautiful siding, roofing, and sheetrocked walls and ceilings, but the step down to the diningroom is 10 inches - way too high and can cause tripping issues. This is also not to modern building codes and could have been addressed before the tile and baseboards were installed. Now its a really big job.

Several large foundation cracks were also found, and will need to be addressed from the exterior (requiring excavation) as well as the interior. The oil tank outside the house had a large spill around it, and the buyer expects the seller to have it cleaned up (see picture). So would I!

The front and rear steps were deteriorated, so they were 'resurfaced' (if you can call it that), but they were pitched towards the house which will let rainwater possibly enter into the basement. As Homer Simpson would say - "Doh"!

Only someone who wants to spend money will purchase this flip, unless you are a contractor (hopefully with more sense than this seller).

I believe the buyer will walk from this one, although I did tell her these things can be fixed. -Ray

There are many inspectors who offer lead based paint inspection here on Long Island and the NYC area, but you should be aware that you must be EPA certified to test for lead based paint in the home.

When I attended the class, I was surprised at the amount of material that was covered, and the test was not easy either. Many people do not pass the test the first time around. You also need to take a refresher course every three years to keep current.

Your local paint store and the big home centers usually carry the swab test sticks, but these are not considered an accurate test, and the EPA does not allow these as a valid test.

The process is quite lengthy as well if you are to do a complete job. Paint samples must be removed from the home and bagged, labeled, and a layout of the home is made. This is destructive to the surface of what is being sampled because you must remove all layers down to the substrate material (the original surface that was painted). You must keep good records as well as the EPA could always come knocking.

There is another way to test for lead based paint. There is what is called and XRF (X-ray Fluorescence) gun. These guns are quite expensive (good ones are $20,000), but there is no destructiveness to its use. The bigger lead abatement companies will usually have this gun, and most home inspectors are not going to buy such an expensive piece of equipment. I do not have one either.

So make sure you ask if your NY state licensed inspector is EPA certified - they should have a card in their wallet with the EPA certification documentation. - Ray

There are many inspectors who offer lead based paint inspection here on Long Island and the NYC area, but you should be aware that you must be EPA certified to test for lead based paint in the home.

When I attended the class, I was surprised at the amount of material that was covered, and the test was not easy either. Many people do not pass the test the first time around. You also need to take a refresher course every three years to keep current.

Your local paint store and the big home centers usually carry the swab test sticks, but these are not considered an accurate test, and the EPA does not allow these as a valid test.

The process is quite lengthy as well if you are to do a complete job. Paint samples must be removed from the home and bagged, labeled, and a layout of the home is made. This is destructive to the surface of what is being sampled because you must remove all layers down to the substrate material (the original surface that was painted). You must keep good records as well as the EPA could always come knocking.

There is another way to test for lead based paint. There is what is called and XRF (X-ray Fluorescence) gun. These guns are quite expensive (good ones are $20,000), but there is no destructiveness to its use. The bigger lead abatement companies will usually have this gun, and most home inspectors are not going to buy such an expensive piece of equipment. I do not have one either.

So make sure you ask if your NY state licensed inspector is EPA certified - they should have a card in their wallet with the EPA certification documentation. - Ray

Many people do not realize that gasoline in garages can ignite when a boiler or water heater comes on. Modern codes dictate that when a boiler is located (or relocated) in the garage that it must be at least 18 inches above the floor.

When any fuel burning equipment is located in a garage, even though it may be behind a wall, it is still in the garage. You may not keep your car there, but if a gasoline leak were to occur, it could cause an explosion. Even gas cans from lawnmowers and other equipment can be knocked over, and if your boiler turns on at that time - KABOOM!

Houses have been leveled, and people have been killed by this.

Keep this in mind if you have a garage, and make sure to follow modern building codes and standards when relocating your fuel burning boiler or water heater to the garage. - Ray

I love dogs. I always make friends with them at the home inspection, unless the dog is not into it, or is over-protective. I squat down low, talk in a gentle voice, and let them sniff my hand. Once they smell a stranger, they can decide if they want to be pet or not, and I don't push it. Most times, I make a friend.

Today, I was in a house in Amityville, NY and there were two Rotweillers in cages in the yard. These dogs were dying to get a piece of me. The owner stated they only will be friendly towards family members. I asked which junkyard they spent their days in and was given a look that said "what do you mean, these are our family dogs".

The neighbor spoke to me as I left, and she hated these dogs. One reason - she has children and she fears for their safety. She told me they trained these dogs to be that way.

I understand the need to protect what is yours, but this is extreme. Suppose one escapes. What if a fireman is attempting to save a life or put out a fire?

Maybe its me, but I think this is well beyond the normal realm of thought for dog obedience. This is like training a killer to kill.

 -Ray

I have had this happen again to me yesterday. An agent calls me a month after a buyer walks away from a purchase wanting to procure an inspection report from me for free. I told him he needs to contact the original purchaser who's permission I need to release the report.

This agent was also not pleased to find I expect to be paid for this. His responce was 'You already got paid'. My responce is 'your seller is receiving a highly detailed report with photographs on the condition of the house that I spent a total of 5 hours working on'. Sorry! This has value and I don't give it away for free. Do agents work for free?

I have discounted the fee when the agent does this in the correct fashion and has the original buyer call me to give permission, but when the 'attitude' comes out in the phonecall, I tend to get defensive. 

Now lets be real here. The agent wants the seller to see that there are problems with the house that are making it a tough sell, and he wants the seller to see this in black and white. Good idea. I commend you. But do it the right way.

The amount of money an inspector makes on an inspection is pittance in relation to an average commission that the agent makes, and the liability involved is much higher for the inspector than it is for the agent. Home inspectors get sued for stupid things like a failing 30 year old dishwasher.

If you want it so damn badly, then get the permission in the proper fashion, and pay for it yourself without bitching up a storm. I put a lot of effort into my report, and I get LOTS of referral business because of this. As the saying goes, "Quality doesn't cost, IT PAYS! - Ray

Don't be ridiculous, Call METICULOUS!!!

Many people think aluminum wiring is illegal, but in many houses this is what you find. Many (but not all) service companies will replace aluminum wiring with copper wiring. Some will not.

Many people also think any wiring from the pole and to the service meter are the responsibility of the utility company, but in many places this is not so. 

I also see that nobody even looks (when buying a home) at the wiring to and from the pole as many times it is in very, very poor condition to the point of being dangerous!

Wiring does loosen up over the years, and many electricians who know this re-tighten their service panel connections to assure the connections are tight.

YOU SHOULD TOO! - Ray

I have had a rash of bad checks from my clients lately. My bank charges $15 for returned checks, and I have to chase down clients to get paid.

These people are buying a house? And they can't even pay the home inspector?

I am pro active when it comes to getting paid, and I have no problem knocking on the door of the buyer at 7am to ask for payment. Last week I drove to Brooklyn (1.5 hours) and I woke up the client as it was quite early, but thats what it takes sometimes.

The aggravation, the time, the gas all adds up, and it costs me money, as well as my time. It may be time to incorporate credit cards into the business, although I do not want to pay these companies their fees. I like it simple - cash or check. But this check thing is out of hand lately. - Ray