south jersey home inspections: "Cozy Family Room with Gas Fireplace" ... maybe a little too cozy
- 12/01/10 03:25 AM
This four year old South Jersey home was advertised as having a cozy family room with a natural gas fireplace. After completing my home inspection, I believe this fireplace was a little too cozy. No evidence of problems was observed in the family room. However, the exterior of the fireplace showed melted vinyl siding. As the fireplace was positioned at the rear of the house which faced north, I ruled out any sun reflection and concluded that an installation defect was likely. As similar to other fuel burning equipment, the manufacturer provides detailed instructions regarding safe clearances to combustible materials and … (4 comments)
south jersey home inspections: Mouse in Electrical Panel
- 11/14/10 01:32 AM
Finally got one! After all these years of observing evidence of mice living inside electrical panels In South Jersey I have caught one in the act performing a home inspection. This time he did not hear me approaching. This time I was too quick for him. Off came the electrical panel cover and there he was frozen in fear while I snapped these pictures!
Mice in electrical panels can cause considerable damage and create a fire risk. From the homeowner's perspective this is a safety concern. From the perspective of a mouse the electrical panel is likely to be a … (15 comments)
south jersey home inspections: Fannie Mae, the Mistress of Deception....
- 10/04/10 01:52 AM
I hope most Americans are aware of the financial troubles of Fannie Mae and the questionable practice of the Federal Government backing Fannie Mae losses with taxpayer dollars. And I am sure that many Americans are aware that Fannie Mae owns thousands of recently foreclosed homes that have and are being placed on the real estate market for resale. Having performed home inspections in southern New Jersey on countless foreclosed homes, I am well educated in the typical condition of these properties. In short, most foreclosures have serious defects. It is not unusual for a foreclosed property to have been vacant for … (5 comments)
south jersey home inspections: Real Estate Agents Need To Demand Home Inspector Background Checks
- 03/07/10 09:07 AM
Frequently real estate agents will recommend home inspectors to their clients as part of the service they are providing. This is expected as the agent is viewed as an expert in real estate and should know local home inspectors which include the good and often the bad. The concern by this author is do the agents really know anything about the individual they are recommending. Sometimes the home inspector is pre-qualified on rumor. For example, the other sales agents in the office state the inspector is a non-alarmist and/or a very good inspector. Other times, the home inspector can be recommended … (4 comments)
south jersey home inspections: Hardhats Recommended This Winter
- 02/15/10 09:44 AM
It has been a difficult winter for the real estate professionals and everybody else that has had to deal with the extreme cold weather and extensive snowfall. While the cold can be considered cruel, the snow can be very beautiful, particularly the icicles that result from thaw and freeze cycles. While we all appreciate the beauty of winter, one most must remain aware to the danger of falling icicles, ice and snow. Any of the above can cause severe injuries and even present the possibility of death. Accordingly, prior to viewing the exterior of a building during winter weather it is … (6 comments)
south jersey home inspections: Building Codes and Home Inspection Standards Intertwined
- 01/10/10 12:08 PM
Lenn Harley recently commented on Jeff Karlsons post titled "That's Grandfathered In" as follows. "We have ceased to recommend two home inspectors because they wrote as "defects" things that didn't comply with the code as of today. There is no section in the home inspection report for "code matters". Further, code inspections in my area are legally done only by municipal and licensed code inspectors. The visual inspection performed by home inspectors demonstrates the "condition" of existing systems, foundation, roof, etc. The sophistication of the average buyers simply doesn't permit them to digest the difference between condition of existing structures and … (38 comments)
south jersey home inspections: HOME IMPROVEMENT GONE WRONG
- 02/25/09 10:39 AM
Most of us have done it. We have taken on a home improvement that resulted in a disaster. While there were good intentions, the project was destined to fail due to any number of reasons. I call this misfortune "Home Improvement Gone Wrong". Home improvement project failure can be blamed on various reasons which include lack of planning, inadequate patience and poor skills. It must also be noted that sometimes special tools are required and there is a quite a difference between a utility knife and a reciprocating saw. There are mainly two different types of home improvements; cosmetic and functional. … (10 comments)
This four year old South Jersey home was advertised as having a cozy family room with a natural gas fireplace. After completing my home inspection, I believe this fireplace was a little too cozy. No evidence of problems was observed in the family room. However, the exterior of the fireplace showed melted vinyl siding. 
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