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The Three Most Common Write-Ups At A Home Inspection

By
Home Inspector with Poway,La Jolla,Del Mar,Mira Mesa,Carlsbad,Escondido,Temecula

After personally completing thousands of home inspections over the past eight years, I've narrowed it down to the three most common write-ups at a home inspection. Since the cost to correct all three items is only $15.00, it makes me wonder why I see them so often. A homeowner can easily fix these items in less than 30 minutes. Ready? Here they are:

 

 

 

1. Anti-Tip Brackets:  A home inspector will always check to see if an anti-tip bracket is installed on a free-standing range. An anti-tip bracket is a small metal device designed to prevent the range from tipping over and is included in all installation kits. The bracket screws to the wall and secures one of the rear range legs. If not equipped with one of these devices, the range may tip over if enough weight is applied to its open door, such as that from a large Thanksgiving turkey, or even a small child. From 1980 to 2006, there were 143 incidents caused by range tip-overs. 33 of the incidents resulted in death, mostly small children. Cost: $4.00

 

 

 

 

2. Dirty/Missing Air Filters: Forced air heating and cooling systems circulate air through a home. Unconditioned air is drawn into the system, heated or cooled, and then distributed. Homes have a lot of dirt and dust in them (some more than others!), so this air must be filtered. Air filters are installed either in the furnace or in the return air register. Dirty or missing air filters are noted in most home inspection reports. If dirt and dust enter the system, reduced efficiency and shortened life-span will occur. Cost: $5- $7.00

 

 

 

 

 

3. Fireplace Damper Clamps: Many of the fireplaces I inspect here in southern California have a gas fixture (a log lighter or decorative log set). If they do, a damper clamp should be installed on the fireplace damper or its linkage. A damper clamp is simply a C-clamp with a long bolt. When properly installed, this clamp will prevent the damper from closing. If a gas leak occurs, the gas will not enter the living space, but will be vented up through the chimney. This simple device takes approximately two minutes to install with a wrench. Cost: $4.00

 

 

So there you have it: The three most common write-ups at a home inspection! 30 minutes and $15.00 can remove these three "nuisance" items from 98% of home inspection reports! Steve Stenros- First Choice Inspections is a CREIA MCI inspector serving San Diego, Orange, and Riverside counties in southern California. Steve can be reached for appointment at 888-335-3040. Clients receive a FREE lifetime appliance RecallChek with every standard home inspection.


Comments (39)

Steve Stenros
Poway,La Jolla,Del Mar,Mira Mesa,Carlsbad,Escondido,Temecula - San Diego, CA
CREIA MCI, ICC, ACI Home Inspector,San Diego

Thanks, Lisa & Robert! Just a few simple things that may help a transaction go a little smoother!

Jul 21, 2011 08:00 AM
Toni Weidman
Sailwinds Realty - Trinity, FL
20+ Years Selling Homes in New Port Richey, FL

Oh those dirty air filters. I have been in houses where the air filter looks like it hasn't been changed in 100 years, Steve. You wonder how people were able to breath in there.

Great information in your post; thank you for sharing with us.

Jul 25, 2011 01:23 AM
Steve Stenros
Poway,La Jolla,Del Mar,Mira Mesa,Carlsbad,Escondido,Temecula - San Diego, CA
CREIA MCI, ICC, ACI Home Inspector,San Diego

Toni: Isn't it unbelievable? It will really shorten the life of the system as well as the life of the occupants!

Jul 25, 2011 02:55 AM
Rhonda Fee - REALTOR®
Luxury Property Agent, Home Sales, Relocation - Pleasanton, CA
Professional, Knowledgeable, Trustworthy

Thanks for the heads up. The anti tipping this is frequent!

Jul 25, 2011 04:47 AM
Steve Stenros
Poway,La Jolla,Del Mar,Mira Mesa,Carlsbad,Escondido,Temecula - San Diego, CA
CREIA MCI, ICC, ACI Home Inspector,San Diego

Thanks for your comment Rhonda!

Jul 25, 2011 04:25 PM
Jim Frimmer
HomeSmart Realty West - San Diego, CA
Realtor & CDPE, Mission Valley specialist

#2 and #3 are quite common, but the only time I've ever seen #1 is in new construction. However, the anti-tip bracket is always in the oven drawer or a kitchen drawer, so it's just a little labor to install it.

Jul 28, 2011 01:40 PM
Steve Stenros
Poway,La Jolla,Del Mar,Mira Mesa,Carlsbad,Escondido,Temecula - San Diego, CA
CREIA MCI, ICC, ACI Home Inspector,San Diego

Jim, I would say about 90% of the ranges I see are not secured.

Jul 28, 2011 04:35 PM
Donne Knudsen
Los Angeles & Ventura Counties in CA - Simi Valley, CA
CalState Realty Services

Steve - As an MLO here in Los Angeles & Ventura counties, I see a lot of home inspections but I hear about a lot of inspection reports from many of my borrowers.  Like others have stated, #2 & #3 are very common problems around here but I have never heard of #1.  Other issues around here (especially with REO's) are sub-par or damaged electrical panels, no pans under the water heater or no anti-siphon valves or improper piping that didn't lead out.  The GFCI switches are common too as well as dry rot.

Jul 28, 2011 05:22 PM
Steve Stenros
Poway,La Jolla,Del Mar,Mira Mesa,Carlsbad,Escondido,Temecula - San Diego, CA
CREIA MCI, ICC, ACI Home Inspector,San Diego

Donne: The other issues you mentioned are also very common here. Never heard of #1?

Jul 29, 2011 02:42 PM
Pacita Dimacali
Alain Pinel - Oakland, CA
Alameda/Contra Costa Counties CA

Steve --

You are sooooo right about the anti-tip brackets. The good inspectors always mention this during inspections, but I have yet to see it being done.

Jul 30, 2011 05:54 PM
Steve Stenros
Poway,La Jolla,Del Mar,Mira Mesa,Carlsbad,Escondido,Temecula - San Diego, CA
CREIA MCI, ICC, ACI Home Inspector,San Diego

Pacita: Change happens slowly over time. I am beginning to see more of the brackets installed, at least in my area.

Jul 31, 2011 06:35 AM
Shar Sitter
Rooms With Style - Minneapolis, MN
Home Staging and Redesign Minneapolis/ St. Paul, M

Since I just spent $2500 for a new stove so I am hoping they installed the anti-tipping thing, ha. What simple things that people miss...good info.

Jul 31, 2011 08:18 AM
Steve Stenros
Poway,La Jolla,Del Mar,Mira Mesa,Carlsbad,Escondido,Temecula - San Diego, CA
CREIA MCI, ICC, ACI Home Inspector,San Diego

Shar: Some of the higher-end ranges do not require one since they are heavier and will not tip over. The manufacturer will include one if it is necessary.

Jul 31, 2011 08:35 AM
Shar Sitter
Rooms With Style - Minneapolis, MN
Home Staging and Redesign Minneapolis/ St. Paul, M

Thanks for letting me know Steve....appreciated.

Jul 31, 2011 04:06 PM
1~Judi Barrett
Integrity Real Estate Services 116 SE AVE N, Idabel, OK 74745 - Idabel, OK
BS Ed, Integrity Real Estate Services -IDABEL OK

Steve, I wonder if it's area particular. .  These particular issues have not surfaced in any of our sales that I can recall. 

Aug 01, 2011 02:46 PM
Steve Stenros
Poway,La Jolla,Del Mar,Mira Mesa,Carlsbad,Escondido,Temecula - San Diego, CA
CREIA MCI, ICC, ACI Home Inspector,San Diego

Well now, you've got me there, Judi!  If you have boilers instead of forced air furnaces, the air filters would not be an issue.  If most of your fireplaces are wood burning only, the damper clamp would not come into play.  As for the freestanding ranges... no answer for you. Thanks for your comment!

Aug 01, 2011 06:01 PM
Gene Riemenschneider
Home Point Real Estate - Brentwood, CA
Turning Houses into Homes

OK Steve, this is the last one before I can call it a day.  But this is great information.

Aug 13, 2011 05:54 PM
Steve Stenros
Poway,La Jolla,Del Mar,Mira Mesa,Carlsbad,Escondido,Temecula - San Diego, CA
CREIA MCI, ICC, ACI Home Inspector,San Diego

Thanks for the re-blog, Gene!

Aug 13, 2011 07:37 PM
Steve Davis
Davis Coastal Properties - Carlsbad, CA
Carlsbad CA

Steve - Donna mentions pans under the water heater as a common home inspectiion find. Is that a requirement?

Sep 05, 2011 06:21 AM
Steve Stenros
Poway,La Jolla,Del Mar,Mira Mesa,Carlsbad,Escondido,Temecula - San Diego, CA
CREIA MCI, ICC, ACI Home Inspector,San Diego

Steve & Carol: The IRC code says, "Where water heaters are installed in locations where leakage of the tank or connections will cause damage, the water heater shall be installed in a galvanized steel pan." So, if a water heater is installed at an interior location, I will write it up as a defect if a pan is not present. For water heaters installed in a garage, I write it up only as a suggestion or upgrade. Technically though, the case could be made that leaks in a garage will still cause damage, so I can't fault her for that.

Sep 05, 2011 06:20 PM