Home Inspector Insights

Today I am Julia Childs...But better looking

Russ Colliau (United Professional Real Estate Inspectors, Inc.) — Mon, 15 Nov 2010 09:04:32 -0800

The Oxo salad chopper has made chopping salad so much easier for me! My wife eats a lot of greens and preparing salad is not one of my favorite things. This cool knife that looks like a pizza cutter is so cool I can even get the kids to help. It cuts everything for salads including nuts with just a few rolls! I don't even need a separate cutting board or worry that someone will lose a finger. The cool angled handle on the roller is built to work perfectly with the oxo bowl and the rim of the bowl has an awesome grip as well. You can throw it in the dishwasher. It sells for about $25 on Amazon. Nope. I don't make a penny on my endorsement. I just love the product! United Professional Real Estate Inspectors is committed to providing home buyers, home sellers, and the real estate community a thorough, reliable, consistent, uniform home inspection service that is diplomatically based on the CREIA and ASHI philosophy and strives to meet high public expectations.

How to handle a necessary evil

Russ Colliau (United Professional Real Estate Inspectors, Inc.) — Fri, 12 Nov 2010 06:06:56 -0800

The necessary evil I am talking about is extension cords! (insert horror music here). Most people don't think twice about these potential safety hazards so I have put together a simple list to use them safely. 1. Don't run extension cords through a doorway where they can get damaged. 2. As tempting as it may be, don't hide extension cords under carpet where you can't see them and they may overheat. 3. An extension cord can be a trip hazard, keep them away from high traffic areas. 4. Never use extension cords end to end. That doubles your risk. 5. Don't use a cord with loose wires or a loose outlet or plug. 6. Never cut or modify the cords or connectors for any reason. I hope this helps. Have a great weekend!!!!! United Professional Real Estate Inspectors is committed to providing home buyers, home sellers, and the real estate community a thorough, reliable, consistent, uniform home inspection service that is diplomatically based on the CREIA and ASHI philosophy and strives to meet high public expectations.

Quick fix for dirty dirty siding

Russ Colliau (United Professional Real Estate Inspectors, Inc.) — Thu, 11 Nov 2010 05:00:24 -0800

No matter what the surface, the outside of your home will have dirt and grime build up. Cleaning it is a whole lot easier than you may think. Pressure washing that the pros use isn't always the answer. More often than not you don't need to re paint the surface either. Save yourself some time and money with the following tips. Mild detergent and water usually do the trick. First, get the surface wet with the detergent and water mixture using a garden sprayer. Grab a soft brush like the kind you use to wash a car. Put the brush on a long pole to make the job easier. Work from the bottom up, and keep wetting the area below the area you are scrubbing to prevent dirty water from streaking the dry siding. Rinse with clear water and enjoy your day!United Professional Real Estate Inspectors is committed to providing home buyers, home sellers, and the real estate community a thorough, reliable, consistent, uniform home inspection service that is diplomatically based on the CREIA and ASHI philosophy and strives to meet high public expectations.

The builder made a sticky mess!

Russ Colliau (United Professional Real Estate Inspectors, Inc.) — Mon, 08 Nov 2010 03:33:08 -0800

One of the inspectors at United Professional Real Estate Inspectors was featured in a local news story about a bee infestation mess. Dennis Candler (he's the same guy who was stranded on a roof in an earlier blog) disovers it's all the responsibility of the builder to fix this horror. http://www.kcra.com/news/25629087/detail.htmlUnited Professional Real Estate Inspectors is committed to providing home buyers, home sellers, and the real estate community a thorough, reliable, consistent, uniform home inspection service that is diplomatically based on the CREIA and ASHI philosophy and strives to meet high public expectations.

Get the inside scoop on how you look to lenders

Russ Colliau (United Professional Real Estate Inspectors, Inc.) — Mon, 25 Oct 2010 04:20:37 -0700

If you are anything like me, you have often wondered how FICO really works? The company behind FICO has published the specific point drops for common missteps. You can find them on the fico website. Here is the breakdown of 3 common financial difficulties and how their specific point drops. Maxed Out Credit Card · Starting score of 780: 25-40 point drop · Starting score of 680: 10-30 point drop 30 Day Delinquency · Starting score of 780: 90-110 point drop · Starting score of 680: 60-80 point drop Foreclosure · Starting score of 780: 140-160 point drop · Starting score of 680: 85-105 point drop Not surprisingly, the higher your score, the bigger your fall. This deals with the fact that credit scores are there to predict the chance of a loan default. United Professional Real Estate Inspectors is committed to providing home buyers, home sellers, and the real estate community a thorough, reliable, consistent, uniform home inspection service that is diplomatically based on the CREIA and ASHI philosophy and strives to meet high public expectations.

The big Credit Score and how it works

Russ Colliau (United Professional Real Estate Inspectors, Inc.) — Mon, 25 Oct 2010 04:17:41 -0700

How 3 things affect your FICO Score

Russ Colliau (United Professional Real Estate Inspectors, Inc.) — Mon, 25 Oct 2010 04:15:28 -0700

Red Flags you can spot on your own

Russ Colliau (United Professional Real Estate Inspectors, Inc.) — Fri, 22 Oct 2010 04:12:36 -0700

Home inspections by a qualified inspector are always a must. That being said, there are a few things you can spot on your own as well. · EXTENSION CORDS- A labyrinth of wires from the outlets to computers, televisions, radios, lamps, etc. may tell you the home has an outdated electrical system. A qualified home inspector can tell you if it can be fixed simply or with new wiring. · FOUNDATION CRACKS- Vertical cracks are mostly nothing to worry about but horizontal cracks are another story. Horizontal cracks often require excavation, drainage provisions and wall repair. Opinions can be different with different people when it involves structural elements so get more than one opinion. · WALL OR CEILING STAINS- Any stain should be evaluated by a qualified inspector. They will find the cause and test the stain for moisture activity and damage. · WATER PRESSURE- Do you hear a gurgling sound when you turn on the faucet? Does the water just drip out? That could signal a piping problem. It could just need sections of the piping replaced or an entirely new plumbing system. As a qualified home inspector, I want to do everything I can to help close the deal and keep everyone happy. That’s why we work with buyers so they understand the solutions, not just the problems. United Professional Real Estate Inspectors is committed to providing home buyers, home sellers, and the real estate community a thorough, reliable, consistent, uniform home inspection service that is diplomatically based on the CREIA and ASHI philosophy and strives to meet high public expectations.

A NEW way to visualize improvements

Russ Colliau (United Professional Real Estate Inspectors, Inc.) — Tue, 19 Oct 2010 07:11:17 -0700

We all know curb appeal is a big deal. Lack of curb appeal can be a big deal breaker. The exterior of your home gives off a first impression. It also protects your living space from all sorts of damage from animals, humans and mother nature. If you are looking to change your home’s exterior but just can’t visualize what you want there is a cool new on line tool from Better Homes and Gardens. http://www.bhg.com/app/colorahome/member/index.jsp Color-a-Home’s website allows you to test various designs and color combinations. Some of the exteriors you can check out on your home with a picture include: · New Roofing · New Siding · New Windows · New Shutters and Doors I think I’m going to show this to my wife the next time she wants to upgrade our home. Maybe the website will keep her busy and buy me some time. It probably won’t work but a guy can cross his fingers and hope. United Professional Real Estate Inspectors is committed to providing home buyers, home sellers, and the real estate community a thorough, reliable, consistent, uniform home inspection service that is diplomatically based on the CREIA and ASHI philosophy and strives to meet high public expectations.

Ahh..I can see it now. A Beautiful Exterior!

Russ Colliau (United Professional Real Estate Inspectors, Inc.) — Tue, 19 Oct 2010 07:09:57 -0700

Scam Watch 2010!

Russ Colliau (United Professional Real Estate Inspectors, Inc.) — Mon, 18 Oct 2010 04:14:30 -0700

Mortgage guidelines may be up and there are better loan disclosures for consumers but the FBI says mortgage fraud is on the rise. Fraud comes in many forms. The cost across the nation is between 4 and 6 billion dollars a year. Common frauds target those homeowners behind on their mortgage and looking for help. There are a lot of great organizations that dedicate themselves to helping homeowners. It is important to know the signs of a common fraud. This short video from NBC’s Today Show is a great outline to help you be aware of the criminals out there looking to steal your money and home. http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/26184891/vp/39497215#39497215 Highlights include: The rent-to-buy arrangement, the bait-and-switch and the “phantom fees”. There is a great deal of paperwork with a mortgage and it can be overwhelming. Don’t let that stop you from reading and understanding everything before you sign. If the process makes you uncomfortable, many states offer free or discounted legal help through advocacy groups. United Professional Real Estate Inspectors is committed to providing home buyers, home sellers, and the real estate community a thorough, reliable, consistent, uniform home inspection service that is diplomatically based on the CREIA and ASHI philosophy and strives to meet high public expectations.

The psychology of your buyers!

Russ Colliau (United Professional Real Estate Inspectors, Inc.) — Fri, 15 Oct 2010 04:52:07 -0700

Sellers can gain a competitive edge by studying the research of the psychology of home buying. According to Smart Money’s David Rout, subtle factors can be deal breakers in today’s buyer’s market. You and I know that a bad paint floor in a room can be rectified by a few coats of paint. Research shows that subtle factors like these can be deal breakers. A study from the University of Texas really may surprise you. It turns out that listings that boast renovations like “new paint, new carpet, and/or roof work actually end up with lower sales prices. Buyers become suspicious and may wonder what is being covered up. United Professional Real Estate Inspectors is committed to providing home buyers, home sellers, and the real estate community a thorough, reliable, consistent, uniform home inspection service that is diplomatically based on the CREIA and ASHI philosophy and strives to meet high public expectations.

Know how your buyer thinks!

Russ Colliau (United Professional Real Estate Inspectors, Inc.) — Fri, 15 Oct 2010 04:50:41 -0700

More good times for fall!

Russ Colliau (United Professional Real Estate Inspectors, Inc.) — Wed, 13 Oct 2010 04:18:57 -0700

I look forward to the changing seasons with all the good times ahead. I especially enjoy spending time cleaning the gutters. Okay, perhaps that was sarcasm. Clean gutters are essential to guide rainwater away from your home. A bit of do it yourself maintenance is better than dealing with water in the basement or a foundation suffering structural damage. This Lowes video will hook you up with the basics. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2_9WJSzV6fw The four steps are as follows: 1. Grab a ladder, bucket, hose and a trowel. 2. Scoop large debris from the gutter. The trowel is for the hard to reach stuff and smaller sticks and leaves. 3. Flush out your gutters with a garden hose and spray attachment. 4. Get rid of the clogs in the downspout and check for proper sloping. Maintain your gutters twice a year. If you don’t want to deal with the ladder, reach out to me and I will give you a great local gutter-cleaning recommendation. United Professional Real Estate Inspectors is committed to providing home buyers, home sellers, and the real estate community a thorough, reliable, consistent, uniform home inspection service that is diplomatically based on the CREIA and ASHI philosophy and strives to meet high public expectations.

That's just gutter talk!

Russ Colliau (United Professional Real Estate Inspectors, Inc.) — Wed, 13 Oct 2010 04:18:04 -0700

That’s just gutter talk! I look forward to the changing seasons with all the good times ahead. I especially enjoy spending time cleaning the gutters. Okay, perhaps that was sarcasm. Clean gutters are essential to guide rainwater away from your home. A bit of do it yourself maintenance is better than dealing with water in the basement or a foundation suffering structural damage. This Lowes video will hook you up with the basics. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2_9WJSzV6fw The four steps are as follows: 1. Grab a ladder, bucket, hose and a trowel. 2. Scoop large debris from the gutter. The trowel is for the hard to reach stuff and smaller sticks and leaves. 3. Flush out your gutters with a garden hose and spray attachment. 4. Get rid of the clogs in the downspout and check for proper sloping. Maintain your gutters twice a year. If you don’t want to deal with the ladder, reach out to me and I will give you a great local gutter-cleaning recommendation. United Professional Real Estate Inspectors is committed to providing home buyers, home sellers, and the real estate community a thorough, reliable, consistent, uniform home inspection service that is diplomatically based on the CREIA and ASHI philosophy and strives to meet high public expectations.

Oh Please...anyone can see that!

Russ Colliau (United Professional Real Estate Inspectors, Inc.) — Mon, 11 Oct 2010 05:04:13 -0700

I love the “handy” people who think its ok to blow off their home inspection. If it looks good, it must be in great shape. Why would anyone stage their home and place furniture so that it hides broken tiles? No one would EVER paint over cracks in the walls. That would be dishonest. Plants would NEVER be placed to conceal rotted wood outside. I can’t think of ANY instance where air fresheners would be placed on top of filters inside air vents to mask foul odors. How about those over loaded closets hiding holes in the walls? Nah! That would NEVER happen. Buyer beware! An independent home inspection is a must! This is the largest purchase you will probably ever make! Don’t save a couple hundred to lose thousands. United Professional Real Estate Inspectors is committed to providing home buyers, home sellers, and the real estate community a thorough, reliable, consistent, uniform home inspection service that is diplomatically based on the CREIA and ASHI philosophy and strives to meet high public expectations.

New Lending Rules...Again...Goooood Times!

Russ Colliau (United Professional Real Estate Inspectors, Inc.) — Fri, 08 Oct 2010 05:04:42 -0700

The day is December 13, 2010. Fannie Mae is changing its mortgage lending guidelines. It will be good news for some and not for others. How you will be affected depends on your credit profile and type of loan. The good news is, if you are buying a single-family home, condo or townhome to live in you won’t need Fannie Mae’s minimum 5% personal down payment. It can be made up of 100% gifted or granted funds! If you are buying a second home or multi-unit property, you will still need a minimum personal down payment. The not so good news involves the two changes dealing with revolving debt. · Debt with less than 10 payments remaining can’t be waived in debt-to-income ratio calculations. · If you have debt that doesn’t have a monthly payment on credit, it must be assigned a payment that equals 5% of the outstanding balance. As far as income verification goes, if you are a salaried worker/applicant whose commission/bonus is less than a quarter of your income, you won’t have to produce as many paystubs for underwriting. If you want to get around any of this, get your loan application in before December 13, 2010. Have a great weekend everyone!!!! United Professional Real Estate Inspectors is committed to providing home buyers, home sellers, and the real estate community a thorough, reliable, consistent, uniform home inspection service that is diplomatically based on the CREIA and ASHI philosophy and strives to meet high public expectations.

Things I LOVE about Fall...other than football.

Russ Colliau (United Professional Real Estate Inspectors, Inc.) — Wed, 06 Oct 2010 04:32:15 -0700

The temperature is creeping downward! A little breeze in the air and a crispness we haven’t felt in awhile. I also get excited about fall because my energy bills lower with the temperature. It is very easy to lower energy bills with the right use of your ceiling fan. This video has some great information about how the blades on your ceiling fans work to help your heating and cooling systems. It’s been around awhile so it’s worth it just for the bad 80’s outfit and hair. Thanks to the weather channel. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8hj0-0H7oE4 Here’s a little cheat sheet. · The heat is on: Rotate blades clockwise · The air conditioner is on: Rotate blades counter-clockwise United Professional Real Estate Inspectors is committed to providing home buyers, home sellers, and the real estate community a thorough, reliable, consistent, uniform home inspection service that is diplomatically based on the CREIA and ASHI philosophy and strives to meet high public expectations.

Get it checked out if...

Russ Colliau (United Professional Real Estate Inspectors, Inc.) — Mon, 04 Oct 2010 03:47:59 -0700

Please note that most of the symptoms of mold develop over time. If you notice some of these things are happening in your home or increasing, do something about it. Do not wait. 1. You smell stale musty odors, in the laundry, walls, or bathroom. 2. You have “banging” headaches with no good story behind them. 3. Your towels or clothes smell musty even though they were just washed. 4. Antihistamines are your best friend. 5. You are continually un-naturally tired. 6. You feel better when you are away from home for awhile. 7. You have strange health problems that doctors can’t figure out. 8. Cardboard in places like the garage and attic are damp. 9. White or grayish crystal like substance is on the walls in the basement. 10. Your air conditioning seems stale. It is easy to determine if you have a real mold problem. Consult a professional. United Professional Real Estate Inspectors is committed to providing home buyers, home sellers, and the real estate community a thorough, reliable, consistent, uniform home inspection service that is diplomatically based on the CREIA and ASHI philosophy and strives to meet high public expectations.

5 ways to fake it until you make it!

Russ Colliau (United Professional Real Estate Inspectors, Inc.) — Fri, 01 Oct 2010 04:01:28 -0700

There are many situations in business that can send our stress level flying. It can be as simple as a meeting with your boss or a sales call. It can also be something like speaking in front of an audience. Preparation combined with confidence will offer you a great start. Here are a couple of other tricks that may help. 1. Give yourself a break. You don’t have to be perfect. If you make a mistake, smile and continue. 2. Find a way to calm yourself so that you can burn some of the extra adrenaline. Try a few push-ups against a wall and a few deep breaths as you enter the room to reduce your heart rate. 3. If it is appropriate, let the other people do most of the talking. We all love to talk about ourselves. 4. I am going to assume you are dressed in a professional manner. Don’t concentrate on the impression you are making or how you look. Rise above it and remember they are interested in your subject. 5. Clasp your hands in your lap if you have to. Avoid fidgeting and other nervous gestures. It doesn’t matter if you are nervous. It matters if they see you sweat. United Professional Real Estate Inspectors is committed to providing home buyers, home sellers, and the real estate community a thorough, reliable, consistent, uniform home inspection service that is diplomatically based on the CREIA and ASHI philosophy and strives to meet high public expectations.

I just had to point and laugh!

Russ Colliau (United Professional Real Estate Inspectors, Inc.) — Thu, 30 Sep 2010 04:23:25 -0700

Ok, so maybe pointing and laughing wasn’t the nicest thing I’ve ever done but at least I didn’t take a picture and put it on this blog. We take our inspections very seriously and pride ourselves at going above and beyond what most inspectors do. Today that led to one of my inspectors on a roof. He just couldn’t come back down. As a courtesy with every inspection of a 2 story house, we are happy to use a ladder to get from ground level to the roof of the first floor. We then pull the ladder up from the ground as we are on the first roof to allow us to get to the roof of the second floor. All was well until Dennis (not an alias) began to descend from the second floor roof to the first. The ladder hadn’t been placed correctly and he was stuck. Did I mention the temperature today is 106 degrees? Being the responsible business owner I am, I helped him out of this predicament. I also pointed and laughed heartily and so did the pretty girls who were walking by. Most inspectors don’t include going up on the roof in a standard inspection. The client may miss out on some valuable information. Check with your inspector beforehand to double check. United Professional Real Estate Inspectors is committed to providing home buyers, home sellers, and the real estate community a thorough, reliable, consistent, uniform home inspection service that is diplomatically based on the CREIA and ASHI philosophy and strives to meet high public expectations.

Yum! Bacteria!!

Russ Colliau (United Professional Real Estate Inspectors, Inc.) — Wed, 29 Sep 2010 04:44:26 -0700

My family and I hang out a lot in our kitchen. We meet for meals (obviously) and to grill the kids about school. (They love that!) That’s all great but what isn’t great? The kitchen is one of the filthiest rooms in the house! Germs and grime collect all over the floors, countertops and even inside appliances. Yum! Bacteria for dinner? I don’t think so. The Today show has a great clip that shows how to do everything from cleaning cutting boards and removing burn stains to finally getting the dishwasher to smell good. Want to catch fruit flies? It shows that too. http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/26184891/vp/39231965#39287526 United Professional Real Estate Inspectors is committed to providing home buyers, home sellers, and the real estate community a thorough, reliable, consistent, uniform home inspection service that is diplomatically based on the CREIA and ASHI philosophy and strives to meet high public expectations.

Hey Birds!!!!! I'm trying to work!!

Russ Colliau (United Professional Real Estate Inspectors, Inc.) — Tue, 28 Sep 2010 05:16:25 -0700

I think it’s important that my blog bring useful information to active rain. As I sat down to write this one, I thought of all the quick videos available for home improvement. This one covers just about everything from flooring, drywall, riding mowers, and deadbolts. It also reminds us that even the best make mistakes. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5gvETC0Cx6Y Great way to kick off a work day with a little laughter! United Professional Real Estate Inspectors is committed to providing home buyers, home sellers, and the real estate community a thorough, reliable, consistent, uniform home inspection service that is diplomatically based on the CREIA and ASHI philosophy and strives to meet high public expectations.

It may not be Christmas but ENJOY the gifts!!!!!!

Russ Colliau (United Professional Real Estate Inspectors, Inc.) — Mon, 27 Sep 2010 03:42:46 -0700

The fact that lenders have strict mortgage guidelines for home buyers is no surprise. No more financing with zero down. Most conventional loans now need 10% to finance. In light of these changes, more people are taking advantage of cash gifts from family. The rub is that you want to make sure you accept that gift in a way the mortgage underwriter will accept. Here are a few steps I found to help guide you along the way. 1. All parties should sign an acceptable gift letter. Here is an example: I am the (relationship to recipient) of (name of recipient) and this letter serves as evidence that I am gifting (name of recipient) (amount of gift) to be used for the purchase of the home at (complete address of property). This is a gift, not a loan and there is no expectation of repayment. Signed, (signature of gifter) 2. Keep documentation of the gifter’s bank withdrawal with bank receipts. 3. Keep documentation that the gift was deposited with bank receipts. 4. Make sure the deposit is made independently of other monies you may be depositing. It is important to the lender so they can be sure the cash gift is not laundered and is truly a gift and not a loan in disguise. Good Luck and enjoy the gift!! United Professional Real Estate Inspectors is committed to providing home buyers, home sellers, and the real estate community a thorough, reliable, consistent, uniform home inspection service that is diplomatically based on the CREIA and ASHI philosophy and strives to meet high public expectations.

It may not be Christmas but ENJOY the gifts!!!!!!

Russ Colliau (United Professional Real Estate Inspectors, Inc.) — Mon, 27 Sep 2010 03:41:33 -0700