home inspections: Scary Sink - 06/03/10 04:59 AM
Sometimes a home inspector just has to have a little fun.  With all these foreclosures, short sales and vacant houses we come across some interesting things.  Sometimes things are stolen or missing or disconnected.  I came across something like that and had a little fun with it.  I hope it gives you a little laugh, or maybe a big laugh...
 
 

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(c) 2010 Joseph Lang dba Pillar To Post
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home inspections: What's Under Your House? - 05/18/10 01:15 PM
I've been wanting to put together a home inspection video blog about a crawlspace for a long time.  But as you can probably guess, it's not too easy to do a video in a tight and dusty place like a crawlspace.  Well, I finally had the opportunity to video under a house... and it was a doozy.  I couldn't have picked a better crawlspace to make a video.  I hope you enjoy the video... and I hope you appreciate crawling under a house...
 
 
...remember, we'd be honored to crawl under your house too.
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home inspections: More Than Meets The Eye - 05/05/10 05:38 AM
As a home inspector, our eyes are one of our most valuable tools, of course. Sometimes there are things we just cannot measure, for whatever reason, so we have to rely simply on what we see. However, when possible, it's nice to use some type of measurement to verify what we see.In this video blog I wanted to verify what I saw, so I got creative and was able to do so. I hope you enjoy it:
 
 
 
I hope this gave you a little more appreciation for a professional home inspection and its value.  Be safe out there.
 

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home inspections: What's on Your Roof? - 03/25/10 08:15 AM
Roofs are one of the most important components of a house, I think everyone can agree on that.  I see some pretty weird and ugly things on top of roofs, so I thought I'd share some with you.  I hope you enjoy it.  As always, your feedback is welcomed and appreciated.
 

 

So... What's on your roof? 
I hope this brought you some laughter and gave you a little more appreciation for a professional home inspection.  Be safe out there.
 

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home inspections: Home Inspection Video Blog - Interesting Findings - 03/11/10 06:38 AM
I seem to come across pretty interesting things every day during home inspections.  But of course some things are much more interesting than others.  I usually just have to enjoy or be amazed at what I find by myself.  But I decided to change that and share some of the more interesting findings with you.  So this home inspection video blog has a lot of laughter for you...  I hope you enjoy it.
 
 
I hope this brought you some laughter and gave you a little more appreciation for a professional home inspection.  Be safe out there.
 

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home inspections: Home Inspection Video Blog - Infrared Thermometers - 03/04/10 12:10 AM
This home inspection video blog shows the value of using an infrared laser thermometer while operating the heating system to make sure it's operating properly.  Infrared thermometers are not required by any home inspection association and not every home inspector carries one.  Please view the video blog for an example:
 
 
I hope this gives you a little more information about a professional home inspection and its value.  Be safe out there.
 

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(c) 2010 Joseph Lang dba Pillar To Post
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home inspections: Home Inspection Video Blog - Bathroom Exhaust Fans - 02/24/10 08:17 AM
This home inspection video blog shows an example of a house built in 1988 that does not have a bathroom exhaust fan even though there is no window that opens in the bathroom.  Please take the time to watch it for a little more info:
 
 
I hope this gives you a little more information about a professional home inspection and its value.  Be safe out there.
 

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(c) 2010 Joseph Lang dba Pillar To Post
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home inspections: Home Inspection Video Blog - Safety Egress - 02/17/10 04:02 AM
This home inspection video blog is about safety egress.  In a bedroom, two exits are needed in case of a fire.  One exit is usually the door to the room, and the other usually an open-able window or another door.  This video shows a safety hazard that did not follow the rule.  I hope you enjoy it:
 
 
I hope this gives you a little more information about a professional home inspection and its value.  Be safe out there.
 

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home inspections: Home Inspection Video Blog - Weatherproof Covers - 02/11/10 05:49 AM
I wrote about weatherproof covers back on 11-28-07 ... WOW, that's been while.  Hoewever, this time I did a video blog and not only explain weatherproof covers for exterior receptacles, I also show how to install one.  I hope you enjoy it:
 

I hope this gives you a little more information about a professional home inspection and its value.  Be safe out there.
 

Posted by Joseph Lang of Pillar To Post Professional Home Inspection
                    


(c) 2010 Joseph Lang dba Pillar To Post
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home inspections: Home Inspection Video Blog - Scary Door - 02/01/10 05:18 AM
Some things I find in the field while performing home isnpections are down-right scary.  So you've read the title and are probably thinking to yourself, "How can a door at a home inspection be scary?"  Well, you'll just have to watch the video and see for yourself.  To give it a dramatic effect, I added a "scary" voice in the video (my own voice).  So this home inspection video blog is a little scary and hopefully a little funny (my 6-year old really laughed at it).
 
 
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home inspections: Home Inspection Video Blog - Squirrel Cage - 01/11/10 03:41 AM
All you ever wanted to know about squirrels... just kidding.  This home inspection video blog in Chino Hills, CA has information about furnace maintenance.  Furnaces, just like cars, should be maintained regularly.  Some maintenance includes air filters, vacuuming air plenums and cleaning squirrel cages (or blower fans).  I hope you enjoy the home inspection video blog below:
 
 
I hope this gives you a little more information about a professional home inspection and its value.  Be safe out there.
 

Posted by Joseph Lang of Pillar To Post Professional Home Inspection
                    


(c) 2010 … (2 comments)

home inspections: AB 1118 by Hayashi: Requirements for California Home Inspectors - 01/06/10 06:01 AM
Please read the full text for AB 118 by Hayashi at http://www.assembly.ca.gov/acs/acsframeset2text.htm and type in AB 1118 and the name Hayashi.  If you agree, write your local California Assembly member to support it.
There are currently no requirements by the State of California to call oneself a home inspector, AB 1118 would change that.  I don't think it's a perfect bill, but it's a step in the right direction.  I don't want to summarize it here because I would rather you read the actual text.
Please read it and let me know your thoughts?
Thanks,
Joseph Lang
Pillar To Post Home Inspection

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home inspections: Home Inspection Video Blog - Episode 7 - 01/05/10 05:57 AM
This home inspection video blog is about pool gate safety.  This is a very important safety concerns and should be taken seriously.  Pool gates are there primarily to keep children out of the pool area and prevent drownings.  Of course, some people say, "No big deal, I don't have kids."  This does not hold true... what if a neighbor's kid goes in your backyard to get a ball that went over the wall... then they fall in your unprotected pool... boy, would the lawyers love that one!
Please view the video for information on pool gate safety:
 
 
 
I … (5 comments)

home inspections: Home Inspection Video Blog - Episode 6 - 01/04/10 07:31 AM
Some safety items noted during a home inspection are relatively cheap, yet very important.  I find these types of safety items all the time and note them on my reports.  One such item is an anti-tip bracket for ovens/stoves.  The home inspection video blog below gives an example.
 
I hope this gives you a little more information about a professional home inspection and its value.  Be safe out there.
 

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home inspections: Home Inspection Video Blog - Episode 5 - 12/15/09 07:07 AM
Sometimes I see things that are pretty funny during a home inspection.  This time I thought I'd take a video of it and share it with you.  Now keep in mind, home inspectors are a funny breed of people and not everyone will think it's too funny.  The video is more about making something useless in a home and therefore taking away any value it was intended to have.
Alas, I have taken too long to get to the point.  Please watch the video and let me know what you think.
 
 
I hope this gives you a little more … (4 comments)

home inspections: Home Inspection Video Blog - Episode 4 - 12/03/09 12:50 PM
Okay, I have officially moved to a video blog.  I will probably still do "old" blogs every once in a while, after all, I have thousands of home inspection pictures I'd love to share.  But for now I'm on a video blog kick.
This home inspection video blog is about having a light source in a room. Each room needs a light source so that occupants don't trip over items in the dark and get injured. When there isn't a light on the ceiling, there needs to be another way to provide light for the room. This home inspection video blog … (2 comments)

home inspections: Blow It Out, But Do It Properly - 12/02/09 03:46 AM
I'm trying to move from a traditional blog to a video blog.  Of course in the meantime you get to be my guinea pigs as I slowly learn to master the process.  I eventually hope to do seamless and error-less videos on the field... but until then... practice makes perfect.
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I hope this gives you a little more information about a professional home inspection and its value.  Be safe out there.
 

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(c) 2009 Joseph Lang dba Pillar To Post
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home inspections: A Wet "Guide" to Home Inspections - 11/27/09 02:47 AM
Some items found during the home inspection are very inexpensive, but still are a safety concern. The video below has a good example of this.  Click on the play button in the bottom left-hand corner of the picture.

 
A home inspector should not only be reviewing the report with the client, but also put things in perspective to give them a better understanding.
I hope this gives you a little more information about a professional home inspection and its value.  Be safe out there.
 

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home inspections: The Tale of the Tape (A Home Inspection Blog) - 08/06/09 04:03 AM
Yes, I do like boxing, and though the title of the blog may sound like the prelude to a boxing fight, you can prbably guess that boxing has nothing to do with this blog.
 

 
Okay, so you tell the seller there is a cracked wall.  Well, they might be thinking it's a hairline crack that is typical, so they could care less. However, the measuring tape in the picture puts everything in perspective.  I'd say a 15-inch damaged wall is a little different than a 1/4-inch hole in a wall.
Like I stated earlier, boxing had nothing to do … (0 comments)

home inspections: How Does a Seller Pass a Home Inspection? - 03/10/09 02:16 AM
I hear this question every so often so I thought I'd address it.  Of course here in Southern California, about 90% of the home inspections we perform are vacant houses, usually foreclosures or short sales.  However I know there are still sellers out there.
So how does a seller have the house "pass" the home inspection?  First of all, a home inspection in California is not a pass/fail process.  There is no requirement to have a home inspection and the reports are advisory for the client... nothing has to be repaired from the home inspection, with the exception of earthquake bracing.  … (14 comments)