It is a topic that some of you will NOT want to talk about, or read about----let alone SEE. And I am actually going to tell you how they were USEFULL to me on a recent inspection. Stretch Marks! I know you probably think this is a "stretch," but I am serious. I did in fact use
...
10/31/2008
I had a fascinating conversation with my buyer at an inspection the other day. This house had great curb appeal----all decked out in its fall colors, and in a very desirable neighborhood----and priced just right. Unfortunately, it was priced 100k under the typical homes in the ar
...
10/30/2008
Despite the "juicy" title, this is about a different kind of "juice." There are literally hundreds if not thousands of wire types---each with specific purposes and uses. In residential construction there is your run of the mill Non-Metallic sheathed cable commonly called "Romex"----of
...
10/29/2008
Charles Buell PS, for those of you that are new to my blog (or for some other "unexplained" reason have never noticed)all pictures and smiley-face inserts (emoticons) (when I use them) have messages that show up when you point at them with your cursor. MEMBERS OF ACTIVE RAIN CAN EASILY SUBSC
...
10/29/2008
The factors that can influence a buyer as to whether they ultimately end up buying a property are daunting. While numerous "generalities" can be made as to how best to "present" your property for sale, there will always be elements----or reactions to elements----that can not be predicted or
...
10/28/2008
Even though most of us here playing in the Rain are self employed, I think that most have heard of the "Peter Principle." You know----the concept of getting promoted past one's point of effectiveness or abilities. I was wondering if there is a similar term for those of us who are self empl
...
10/27/2008
"Honey, the light is out in the family room." "Uhhhhhhhh-----OK" "Honey, the light is still out in the family room." "Uhhhhhhhh-----OK" "HONEY, the #%@$# %$^%N light is still out in the #%@$# %$^%N family room." "Uhhhhhhhh-----OK" That afternoon-----after
...
10/25/2008
It is very common for bathroom sinks to have problems with the pop-up stoppers. Sometimes the mechanism under the sink is damaged, disconnected or just plain missing. Other times the lift arm isn't properly connected to the stopper itself. Whatever the problem, since photographs is my onl
...
10/24/2008
I wish someone would start "STAGING" crawl spaces. Why does my flashlight always have to look like the Biggest Ball of Twine from all the spider webs? Why should my coveralls be "off limits" to my sweetie on laundry day? Wouldn't it be nice to enter a crawl space and see
...
10/23/2008
This is another one of those posts about electrical issues that defy logic. Just like so many other electrical defects. Without going into great detail about the differences between electrical "bonding" and electrical "grounding," just take my word for it that all metal electric
...
10/23/2008